kamakadour: Proview asks Chinese retailers to stop selling iPads, threatens severe measures for trademark infringement

শুক্রবার, ৯ মার্চ, ২০১২

Proview asks Chinese retailers to stop selling iPads, threatens severe measures for trademark infringement

by Swati on March 8th, 2012

Chinese company Proview technology that filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Apple, is now demanding a halt to sales and distribution of the iPad in China.

According to a latest report from AP, Proview is asking China iPad vendors and dealers to stop selling the device, and is threatening ?severe measures? against trademark infringements.

In an open letter, reported in local newspapers, Proview says any use of ?IPAD? or similar trademarks is an infringement of Proview?s exclusive rights. The Chinese company further adds that it will take ?the most severe measures? including pursuing civil and criminal liability for any sort of trademark infringement.

Proview Shenzhen registered the trademark ?iPad? in China in 2001, nine years before Apple launched its iPad products in 2010. Apple had applied for the transfer of the trademark from Proview Shenzhen, but the application was turned down by China?s trademark administrative authorities. Proview then filed a lawsuit against Apple in Chinese court.

The iPad sale ban on Apple has been suspended temporarily, and Apple can continue selling its iPads in Shanghai. The Shanghai Pudong New Area People?s Court on Thursday rejected the request from Proview to stop Apple from selling its? tablet devices. The court agreed to Apple?s request to suspend the ban.

Meanwhile, Chinese media reported that Taiwan-based Fubon Insurance has applied to have Proview declared bankrupt. However, Proview said, in a notice to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, that the court in the Chinese city where it is headquartered had not yet accepted any bankruptcy petition against it.

But, one cannot say whether Proview?s request would be able to exert any pressure over iPad sellers in China, especially with all the buzz created by the launch of Apple?s new iPad.