Apple can continue to sell iPad in China, court rules

Feb 23, 2012, 17:48 GMT

Shanghai - US computer maker Apple can continue to sell its iPad tablet computer in China for now after a Shanghai court Thursday ruled against a Chinese company that claimed to own the rights to the iPad name, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Proview Technology (Shenzhen), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Proview International Holdings Limited, claims it has the rights to the iPad name after the Taiwanese branch of the company trademarked the name in various countries starting in 2000.

Apple bought the rights to the name in 2010, but the Chinese firm insists that the purchase did not cover naming rights in mainland China.

The ruling by the Pudong New District People's Court does not end the court fight over the right to the iPad name, which will continue before the Higher People's Court of Guangdong province, where Apple has bought a suit to clarify the trademark. A ruling there is expected February 29.

Apple had sought Thursday's hearing after a lower court had ruled in favour of Proview, prompting some merchants to pull iPads from their shelves.

But the Shanghai court ruled that, until that ruling is issued, Apple is free to sell its tablet.

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