Proview Update: Company Now Wants Worldwide iPad Trademark Back From Apple
February 28, 2012
Proview Electronics has now amended its initial lawsuit against Apple over the iPad trademark. The Taiwan-based company now believes it has enough evidence to convince the California Superior Court that it is the rightful owner of the trademark, according to Focus Taiwan.
On Tuesday, Proview amended its lawsuit against Apple claiming the technology giant originally obtained the iPad name through fraud and unfair competition. As such, it believes it should be given back the trademark in the European Union, South Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In news first reported last week, Proview Electronics said it was bullied by Apple “with oppression, fraud and/or malice,” when it agreed to sell its worldwide iPad trademark in 2009 for just $55,000. At the time, Proview believed it was selling the name to a “special purpose” entity, IP Application Development Limited. Only later, when the first-generation iPad was released, was this entity confirmed to be a front for the technology giant.
This latest news suggests that rather than seek a monetary deal with Apple, Proview instead is planning on going to the mat with the Cupertino, California-based company. At stake, of course, is a name for a product that has brought billions to Apple since the first iPad arrived in 2010.
The iPad 3 is expected to arrived next month.
Can you imagine the iPad called by another name? If so, what should Apple's tablet be called?
