Apple being sued for $38m over ‘iPad’ name

The term ‘iPad' may be synonymous with Apple, but a Chinese company are suing the shiny fruit maker in a dispute over the iPad trademark. They have said they are also demanding an apology and anticipates that Apple will be fined $38 million by a Beijing court.

AppleInsider have the information posted last night, and it claims that Apple bought the iPad trademark from display manufacturer Proview Electronics in Taiwan for $55,000, via a front company called IP Application Development.

It all seems straightforward enough, however apparently the agreement did not include rights to the trademark in China, as those are owned by Proview Technology (Shenzhen).

The company threatened legal action and sued Apple in China last year over trademark infringement. They are seeking 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) in damages. Apple have countersued, but a chinese court ruled in favour of Proview. Apple are appealing the decision.

The Global Time spoke with Xie Xianghui, a lawyer working with Proview. He said they were ready to “slap Apple with a 240 million yuan ($38 million) fine.”

The interesting part of the case is that Proview also want Apple to apologise. Xie said “We ask the court to stop selling and marketing for Apple’s iPad in China. We also demand an apology.”

Kitguru says: Apple to issue an apology? That would be a first.

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