Apple, Proview settle for $60 million over iPad name

Apple has agreed to give $60 million to electronics company Proview in order to continue using the name iPad for its popular tablet computer in China, which is a critical market for the technology company. According to The Associated Press, the Guangdong High People’s Court said the case had been settled and that Apple transferred the money into the court’s account.

Proview, a struggling electronics company from China that held the “IPAD” trademark for a desktop computer, said Apple had misrepresented itself when it originally sought to buy the name for the iPad’s launch in 2007. Apple, the world’s largest technology company by revenue and profit, used a smaller firm to purchase the trademark from Proview’s Taiwanese affiliate, which is standard industry practice. Proview said both its Chinese branch should not be bound by its affiliate’s agreement and that it was not clear that the trademark would be used to brand electronic products. Apple said it bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 countries and accused the Chinese company of not honoring its business agreements. The case, which has been underway since February, highlights issues American companies may face with Chinese trademark laws. According to The Washington Post in February, American firms often have trouble navigating how the Chinese government interprets and implements its copyright and trademark laws.