Apple says court is being misled by Proview's claim of iPad trademark ownership

As Apple and Chinese company Proview battle for ownership of the iPad trademark in China, Apple filled a statement with the courts in the country saying that Proview is misleading the court. Apple wrote that it was tricked by Proview into signing a document in 2009 that turned over the trademark IPAD to the Cupertino based tech giant in Taiwan, China and other countries. Apple says that Proview had the contract intentionally go through its Taiwan division when it was the Chinese division that held the trademark.

In a prepared statement, Apple's spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said, "Proview clearly made that arrangement so they wouldn't have to give the money to their creditors in [China]. Because they still owe a lot of people a lot of money, they are now unfairly trying to get more from Apple for a trademark we already paid for." Proview, in its defense, alleges that it was Apple's attorneys who drafted the document in question and denied that Apple was forced to sign the pact in Taiwan. Proview's attorney, Xiao Caiyuan, says that it is Apple that is "misleading the public" and it was the Cupertino based company that made the mistakes that left Proview with the IPAD trademark in China. "The fact is that Apple's former lawyer made a silly mistake," Proview attorney Xiao said. "Proview still thinks both sides can solve the dispute by peaceful talks."

While the court drama plays out, Proview has unsuccessfully tried to get the Apple iPad pulled from stores in China. Meanwhile, as the High Court in China's Guangdong province tries to figure this case out, China has become Apple's second largest market for its tablet after the States. Research firm IDC estimates that Apple sold 4.1 million tablets in China, giving it a 70% market share in the country.

While the new Apple iPad will launch in various parts of the world this Friday, including in Hong Kong, there is no word when the latest iteration of Apple's tabletr will be released in mainland China.

source: WallStreetJournal