Amazon China not approved to sell iPad, sources claim
updated 12:50 pm EST, Thu February 16, 2012
Proview dispute allegedly irrelevant
Amazon pulled the iPad from its Chinese storefront because of a lack of authorization, sources for the Wall Street Journal claim. The sources add that Apple has been working with Amazon for weeks on the matter, and that the takedown has nothing to do with Proview, the company suing Apple over use of the iPad trademark in China. Amazon.cn pulled the iPad from listings earlier this week; the Journal's report doesn't explain why another retailer, Suning, also withdrew listings.
Proview is suing Apple for $1.6 billion, saying that while Apple did secure some iPad trademarks from Proview Electronics in 2006, the Chinese trademark is owned by Proview Shenzhen. Today Apple came out with a rare public statement, insisting that Proview is refusing to honor agreements, and that a ruling in Hong Kong backs its position. Proview has countered by calling the ruling distorted, and unlikely to affect trials in mainland China.
