It previously spent US$150,000,

Now it is being claimed for US$10 billion.

The iPad trademark case lost,

Apple can only Spend money to solve the lockdown crisis.

Apple, which loves to litigate, took the initiative to stand on the plaintiff's bench again. Unfortunately, it lost this time. The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court recently ruled in the first instance that it rejected the request of Apple and IP Company regarding the iPad trademark case.

Competing with Apple is Proview Technology Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese company in Shenzhen, which was sued by Apple in court over the ownership of the iPad trademark rights. It used to be a global display manufacturer, but later declared bankruptcy in 2008 due to operational problems, and the company's shares have been suspended ever since. In 2000, Proview Taipei, a subsidiary of Proview, registered the iPad trademark in multiple regions. In 2001, Proview Technology Shenzhen, a subsidiary of Proview International, registered the iPad trademark in mainland China - Apple was confused. It was not sure whether the global iPad trademark rights it bought from the former was valid.

It turns out that Apple missed a big deal by spending a small amount of money. Before Apple launched the iPad in 2009, a company called 'IP' reached an agreement with 'Proview International', the parent company of Proview, to acquire the iPad Global from Proview Taipei for ￡35,000 (approximately RMB 340,000). The trademark rights were transferred to Apple for 100,000 pounds (approximately 990,000 yuan) in 2010 - it was later confirmed to be Apple's 'shell' company, in order to avoid paying more for the trademark due to its large background. Purchase Fees.

This was finally grasped by Proview’s attorney Xiao Caiyuan: the owner of the IP company’s authorized representative email address - Jonathan Hargreaves - may not exist at all, and ‘this natural person does not exist’. He learned about this doubt from the materials Apple submitted to the Hong Kong High Court.

Proview Shenzhen insists that it is the owner of the iPad trademark rights in mainland China. Proview Taipei Company has no right to sell, so the iPad’s mainland China trademark rights do not belong to Apple, and is claiming 10 billion from Apple. Dollar.

This is not the first time Apple has faced trademark disputes. In China, Apple paid RMB 25 million to Hanwang Technology for iPhone trademark issues, and this trademark transfer income became an important non-operating income for Hanwang in 2009, accounting for nearly 30% of its profits that year. Abroad, Apple has also been in constant trouble due to iPad trademark infringement. Computer manufacturer Fujitsu applied for the US iPad trademark in 2003. Its 'iPad' device is slightly smaller than Apple's tablet computer, but also has a touch screen and wireless network interface. It is mainly used by retail clerks to track inventory and sales. In March last year, Fujitsu General and Apple reached a settlement and officially transferred the iPad trademark to Apple. Siemens also registered an iPad trademark in 2007. However, this trademark is used on different product categories - engines and engines. So this isn't a problem for Apple.

Faced with rumors of a possible sales ban, experienced dealers believe that Apple will solve everything without feeling nervous.

Things are also developing in this direction. Li Su, Shenzhen Proview's debt restructuring consultant and president of Hejun Ventures, scolded Apple on his blog a year ago for "using unethical and unfair means to defraud the iPad trademark rights," which was an unfair move. Now he has told the outside world that , Proview is negotiating with Apple, "Based on the basic status of our negotiations, Apple is indeed a large company with magnanimity, style, and standards." It looks like it has seen benefits.

How much will Apple spend this time? Li Su is only a spokesperson and minority shareholder of Proview. Behind Proview International, which has a net debt of 2.87 billion yuan, there are also Bank of China and 8 creditor banks, with an amount of about 180 million U.S. dollars. Whether this lawsuit is won or not also means that Whether these creditors can get enough compensation - Apple must at least satisfy them to reach a settlement.

It seems that Apple fans don’t have to worry so much - in any case, the iPad may still be called iPad in China.

Apple’s foreign trademark case

Apple VS Cisco

In 2007, Cisco sued Apple over the iPhone trademark and eventually settled.

Apple VS Amazon

In 2008, Apple applied for the ‘AppStore’ trademark. After Amazon launched the Android AppStore, Apple immediately sued and lost the case.

Apple VS The Beatles

In 1978, the Beatles accused Apple of trademark infringement. Apple paid $80,000 in damages and promised never to enter the music business. Later, because Apple launched the iTunes service to enter the music market, the two parties fought in court and finally reconciled.

Bajie Intellectual Property Trademark Transfer Network