China's Proview Claims iPad Trademark

A Chinese technology firm that claims it still owns the iPad trademark will seek a ban on exports of Apple Inc's computer tablets from China, which could deal a blow to the US technology giant's sales worldwide.

Proview Technology (Shenzhen) Co Ltd is petitioning Chinese customs to stop shipments of Apple's popular iPads in and out of China, but has not received a response, lawyer Xie Xianghui said.

Apple said it bought Proview's worldwide rights to the trademark in ten different countries several years ago, including rights to the iPad name from a Taiwan subsidiary. However, Proview claims the sale did not cover the use of the trademark in China.

Apple lost a case to Proview in a Shenzhen court late last year when the court agreed that Proview owned the iPad trademark.

Apple has appealed the decision and a final hearing is due to start in the Guangdong High Court on February 29th. This court's decision will be final under the Chinese legal process.

Legal experts say Apple's options are limited to either settling with Proview, appealing to a higher court, or facing devastating enforcement actions in China.