Taiwanese company Proview Electronics wants to put a ban on both iPad imports and exports. The company is already petitioning Chinese customs to stop shipments of iPads.
Christian Zibreg, reporting for 9to5Mac:
Not content with officials yesterday confiscating iPads in Shijiazhuang over an ongoing litigation on the iPad moniker, Taiwanese company Proview Electronics is now looking to put a ban on both iPad imports and exports... The company is already petitioning Chinese customs to stop shipments of iPads. Proview sued Apple last year over its “I-PAD” trademark and could seek up to $1.5 billion for the name from the Cupertino, Calif.-headquartered gadget powerhouse.
Apple is in an increasingly difficult place here. Considering every iPad is built in China (until Brazil plants go online), a full-blown export ban could disrupt the iPad business on a global scale. Proview’s legal position stems from Chinese laws that seek to prevent the sale of counterfeit goods in the country.
Reuters confirmed the development this morning: “A Chinese tech firm claiming to own the “iPad” trademark plans to seek a ban on shipments of Apple Inc’s computer tablets into and out of China, a lawyer for the company, Proview Technology (Shenzhen), said on Tuesday.”
Proview is also asking the country’s Administration Industry and Commerce to begin confiscations in as many as 30 cities.
Apple’s position remains unchanged. “We bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago. Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter,” said an Apple spokesperson.
The problems began for Apple last October when Proview accused them of trademark infringement over the “iPad” name. Proview has now taken the dispute to the next level and has blocked iPad sales by suing resellers in Southern China, and it has threatened to go after other Apple resellers throughout China.
