A judge in the United States dismissed Proview’s suit two days ago against Apple in the U.S., and it seems the dispute may be wrapping up soon, because the companies have been discussing a settlement amount.
A report by Sina (via the Beijing Times/TNW) claims that Apple offered $16 million as a settlement for the iPad trademark in China, which Apple was duped out of prior to the product’s 2010 launch. Apple bought the Chinese trademark using secret subsidiary IPAD, but the Taiwanese arm of Proview had no right to sell it, because it was a separate entity from the Chinese company that owned rights to “IPAD” in China.
Proview China is now in bankruptcy to the tune of $63 million to Chinese banks and others; so $16 million is a long way from bringing it back from the dead. However, the creditors may choose to take what they can get.
By the way, the new iPad is conspicuously late to China—with some even wondering if it is because of the trademark dispute.
- Apple offers to settle Proview iPad trademark dispute, ‘Big Gap’ remains in reaching agreement (9to5mac.com)
- Apple could lose China iPad trademark boasts Chinese government official as groups enter mediation (9to5mac.com)
- Chinese customs: iPad too powerful and popular to be banned (9to5mac.com)
