Proview Unveils iPad Lawsuit Details
TechWeb, 2/17/12
Shenzhen-based display device manufacturer Proview Technology, a subsidiary of Proview International Holdings (0334.HK), convened a press conference today in Beijing to reveal details of the company's lawsuit against Apple over the rights to the iPad trademark. Proview displayed materials about its iPAD and alleged that Apple had used fraudulent means in an attempt to cause Proview to relinquish all global rights to the iPad trademark. Proview founder Yang Rongshan said that the iPAD, or "Internet Personal Access Device," was an internet terminal product developed by Proview in the latter half of 1998 for the company's iFAMILY series, which Yang said the company had invested more than USD 30 mln in developing. Proview publicly announced the iPAD in 2000, and began work on a second-generation iPAD in 2003. The device was sold in Europe and the United States, but was sold to HP after the company failed to receive a US trademark.
Speaking of the iPad trademark dispute, Yang said that Apple had set up a British company named IP in August 2009 which subsequently contacted Proview about purchasing the trademark owing to the similarity with its name and made guarantees that it would not compete with Proview. Being in a parlous financial situation at the time, Proview accepted IP's offer to purchase the trademark for GBP 20,000. Yang denied reports that Proview had sought RMB 10 bln in damages from Apple, saying that the company had not publicly asked for any specific amount in compensation.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Update: Apple Appeals iPad Trademark Lawsuit" MD 1/30/12 issue.
Keywords: hardware trademark Apple Proview iPad 0334.HK law tablet computer litigation
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