Proview warns Chinese businesses against selling iPad
updated 10:45 am EST, Thu March 8, 2012
Company steps up pressure on local vendors
Proview Shenzhen has issued an open letter to dealers and vendors in China, warning them not to sell the iPad, according to the Associated Press. The company threatens "the most severe measures" against anyone using "IPAD" or a similar trademark. This includes pursuing civil or even criminal allegations; to date Proview has only pursued a civil case against Apple in China, disregarding a separate US lawsuit.
In the interim Proview has been pushing local authorities in China to confiscate iPads from shelves, sometimes successfully. Apple is appealing a ruling in Proview's favor, however, and the latter party is in dire financial straits. Although the legitimacy of Proview's rights to the Chinese iPad trademark are still up for debate, money is believed to be a major incentive for the company as it struggles with the prospect of bankruptcy.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
bluster
yeah whatever. Bump in the road. Fortunately, Chinese authorities understand that Apple employs a lot of people in China, and keeping people employed is very important to the government there. People who have work are too busy to agitate against the regime. I'm not kidding or engaging in hyperbole, either.
Sometimes bribery is a very efficient form of government...