Proview Shenzhen chairman takes hardline

Proview is holding to the position that it retains the iPad trademark in China, the company has announced at a Friday press event. "If we are not compensated properly, then Apple doesn't use the iPad trademark in mainland China," states Yang Rongshan, chairman of Proview Shenzhen, and the main shareholder in Proview International. A representative for Proview creditors in fact suggests that Apple could end up paying as much as $2 billion in compensation, even though Proview has previously only sought up to $1.6 billion in its lawsuit.

Yesterday evidence emerged suggesting that Apple may indeed have Chinese rights to the iPad name. Yang claims, though, that authorities in over 30 Chinese cities have taken actions related to the dispute, confiscating iPads from some retail stores. Initially only the city of Shijiazhuang was known to have conducted a raid.

Proview has filed for bankruptcy, and may be using the lawsuit to recoup money. Yang says, though, that the company did produce about 10,000 to 20,000 "iPADs" between 1998 and 2009, halting because of the trademark conflict. The representative for Proview creditors, Hejun Vanguard Group president Li Su, meanwhile says that eight Chinese banks that have made loans to Proview are opposed to declaring bankruptcy, insisting it's unnecessary. Proview attorney Ma Dongxiao notes that four Chinese courts have agreed to review complaints against Apple.

By Electronista Staff

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China, lawsuits, Apple, iPad, Proview