iPad might be renamed in China

Ask most people if they know what an iPad is and they’ll say yes. When Apple released their tablet, many industry experts said that the field of consumer electronics had changed and that the iPad was really able to make and leave a huge impression in the market.

The industry has always been a tough one. Aside from fierce competition, there’s always the issue on protecting intellectual property and asserting that fact in court. Apple has filed a lot of suits (and as a result, have received many as well) with regards to disputes on copyright and trademark.

Apple recently lost a patent dispute versus Motorola, where a judge ruled that the former had infringed upon the patents of the latter. The judge found that Apple was guilty of infringing on Motorola’s patents for data packet transfer technology (GPRS).

However, things for Apple isn’t that hot in China. It was recently reported that the company had lost a lawsuit in Southern China, where it accused a Chinese tech company for infringing on its iPad trademark. The legal battle has been ongoing since 2009, when Apple filed their case against Proview Technology. According to documents presented in court, Proview had duly registered the iPad trademark in the year 2000.

Proview has since filed a counter-suit against Apple, and they’re asking for 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in compensation for copyright infringement. Since the courts have now announced their decision on the case in favour of Proview, it’s apparent that Apple will not be able to sell the iPad as “iPad” in China.

Other reports said that Apple had purchased the rights to the name in China in 2000, but the Shenzen Municipal Intermediate People’s Court decided to render the transfer of trademarks as invalid.

Source – Uber Gizmo