Could the iPad be banned? Earlier this week, devices were seized in China over a patent dispute, and the same could happen here in the UK. Chinese company Shenzhen Proview Technology claims it owns the name 'iPad' in China, and is trying to ban exports. It's revealed details of its own iPAD computer it released way back in the year 2000 to back up its case, The Wall Street Journal reports.
And here it is. As you can see, it doesn't look much like an iPad, but it does look quite a lot like the original iMac, which was released a couple of years earlier.
Last year a court ruled in Proview's favour. Earlier this week iPads were seized from sale in Shijiazhuang and Xuhou in China, but the dispute could threaten global sales of the tablet. Proview said it would ask customs officials to stop imports and exports of the iPad, which is made in China -- so that iPad 3 launch we're expecting on 7 March? Might not happen.
Proview has asked regulators in more than 40 cities to investigate possible trademark violations.
"We have appealed to Apple through its agents to have a settlement, but so far we have not received any response from them," said Xie Xianghui, a lawyer for Proview.
Proview held a press conference where it handed out scans of an advert for the iPAD. It said it spent $30 million on the computer, and produced between 10,000 and 20,000 units from 1998 and 2009, when the dispute with Apple came about.
It's unclear who's in the right on this one. Proview registered the iPad trademark in 2001, then Apple bought the rights to the name from a Taiwenese affiliate, but Proview claims it still owns the name in China. Apple appealed the court decision last year, so we'll have to wait and see how it works out.
Could this 12-year-old computer kill the iPad? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, or over on Facebook.
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Comments 12
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anonymous 19 February, 2012 14:39
This company have had all this time to retaliate to this, so why now. Also that doesn't even look like an "iPad" to me. Probably some company trying to scare Apple. Utter rubbish.
anonymous 19 February, 2012 16:01
I think the people in china will be very disappointed not to get there hands on the apple iPad.
AppleRocks16 19 February, 2012 16:21
@anonymous 19 February, 2012 14:39
That is very true indeed. I wonder why this company are whining about it now. They should really dry their eyes.........
anonymous 19 February, 2012 16:25
Haha Apple....wat goes around, comes around !
anonymous 19 February, 2012 17:33
Yes, that clone of Apple's 1998 iMac is definitely what I want to carry around instead of Apple's iPad.
Now I just need to find a bag large enough to carry it around with me, and I also need to start building up my muscles. ;-)
Too bad that Proview already sold the worldwide rights to the "iPad" name to Apple in 2009... before the first Apple iPad went on sale.
Documents showing that they sold the rights to Apple have been posted on the Web (use Google to see them).
ConnorTurnbull 19 February, 2012 18:59
This is pure hyperbole.
anonymous 19 February, 2012 19:50
Yeah true, ipad has been in for sales and manufactured for a few years now, and it is now that the Chinese company realises that it has violated the iPAD trademark and etc...yeah right!
nadz156 19 February, 2012 21:57
Oh well its what Apple deserve after all there patent wars (I'm sure Eric Schmidt and every Android manufacturer especially Samsung is pleased)
anonymous 19 February, 2012 22:30
The CEO of Proview clearly stated that his company is on the verge of dying. His factories are all but closed. He needs lotsa money to keep alive. That is why we suddenly hear from him.
Sandy Carson 20 February, 2012 20:42
haha I bet they're just doing it for a laugh!!
anonymous 21 February, 2012 23:46
just a bunch of **
TechnoMo 25 March, 2012 11:10
Yeh, the case was won by Apple, obviously. It was something like the product was nothing like the iPad so no worries all around