The issue comes from the fact that according to Chinese Trademark Law, Proview Technology still has the right to use the iPad trademark in China.  This company claims that its parent company in Taipei, China, Proview Internationals Holdings Limited, registered the trademark in many countries and regions in 2000. Apple bought the rights to use that trademark from the Taipei company in 2009, but the Shenzhen company claims to be a different entity from its Taipei counterpart, so it is not bound by the deal made with Apple.

Apple unveiled its newest generation iPad in the U.S. in March, but has not started selling it on mainland China yet. The trademark dispute may further postpone the sale of the tablet in China, which has caused Chinese Apple fans to purchase the new iPads in Hong Kong or abroad.

It would be beneficial for both sides to reach an agreement as soon as possible so that Apple can begin earning profits from the 16% revenue that China offers. Apple has begun taking action in their negotiations. It is highly probable that Proview will win this lawsuit, but it will take years to receive the compensation.

Intellectual Property creation, management and enforcement are important components to the success of any business. In many cases, a company’s brand and its product names are its most valuable assets. Due to the value of these assets, a company’s brand and product names require protection so that consumers strongly associate the products or services with the company that provides them.

We understand the importance of creating and maintaining a strong intellectual property portfolio and have made this area of law our primary area of practice. Many firms practice intellectual property law as a part of their general corporate practice and cannot provide the depth and breadth knowledge needed to address clients’ needs in this particular area of law.

Our Background

Our firm has the large firm and USPTO background needed to handle intellectual property matters at reasonable fees for all types of clients. We have managed intellectual property portfolios in all industries, from insurance and finance to automobiles, apparel and pharmaceuticals. Find us on Google under Trademark Lawyers and Intellectual Property Attorneys.