Wednesday, February 8th 2012
Apple Faces Fines in China, Possible iPad Ban for Trademark Infringement
ProView has the last laugh, while Apple gets a taste of its own medicine, in a remarkable turn of events that unfolded in China. Apple and ProView have been locked in a tussle over the brand name "iPad", which the latter claimed Apple dubiously acquired rights to use in 2006, by floating a shell company called IP Application Development and using it to deal with ProView. ProView had no idea it was dealing with Apple at the time (it was not shared that information), or that Apple would go on to use the name for one of its biggest selling products. A Chinese court ruled in favor of ProView. Apple now has to cough up US $38 million in fines, and sit down with ProView to work out a fresh agreement to using the brand name "iPad", or face a sales ban.
Sources:
China Daily, Global Times, DailyTech
31 Comments on Apple Faces Fines in China, Possible iPad Ban for Trademark Infringement
Hopefully Apple gets hammered in the pocket book big time. :D