Apple, Proview Talking Settlement in iPad Trademark Spat
Apple’s battle with Proview over the rights to the iPad trademark in China may end up in a settlement after all.
According to Proview attorney Xie Xianghui, mediation talks between the two companies are progressing, albeit slowly. “We feel that the attitude of Apple has changed,” Xie told China’s government newswire. “Although they expressed that they were willing to negotiate, they have never taken any action before. But now, they are having conversations with us, and we have begun to consult on the case.”
And, evidently, Apple is looking to close the complaint. Xie says the company has already proposed a sum to end the litigation, though it’s not high enough for Proview. “Right now, there is still a big gap between the two sides on the settlement amount,” he said.
Which isn’t at all surprising. Apple has maintained throughout this battle that it legally owns the iPad mark across Asia, and that Proview is doing nothing more than squeezing it for additional money to use the trademark in China — despite the fact that it has already purchased those rights.
“We bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago,” Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told AllThingsD earlier this year. “Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China, and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter.”
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