Apple once more squared off in court in Shanghai Wednesday with Proview, the company challenging the use of the “iPad” name. Apple argued that a ban on iPad sales would be negative for the nation of China.
Katie Marsal, reporting for AppleInsider:
“Proview has no product, no markets, no customers and no suppliers. It has nothing,” Hu Jinnan, a lawyer representing Apple, told the court, according to Reuters. “Apple has huge sales in China. Its fans line up to buy Apple products. The ban, if executed, would not only hurt Apple sales but it would also hurt China’s national interest.”
More than 100 reporters were present for the hearing. A ruling from the Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Court is expected to be handed down soon.
Proview claims that it owns the right to the iPad name, and has asked the court to halt sales of the Apple tablet in China. The company has had some small success in having devices pulled from shelves in a handful of locations.
Proview said once more on Wednesday that they are open to an out of court settlement with Apple. Negotiations have not as yet begun.
Proview’s ownership of the iPad name originates with a product they released in 1999 with the same name. The product was a basic desktop computer.
Apple contends that Proview refuses to honor an existing agreement between the two companies, one that Proview contends was an unauthorized transaction with a Taiwanese affiliate.
Apple has threatened to sue the company for defamation, claiming that Proview has released false and misleading statements to the press.
