More iPads seized in clash over trademark

Authorities have seized iPads from retailers in more Chinese cities in an escalating dispute between Apple and a struggling local company over the trademark for the popular tablet computer. The Chinese company, Shenzhen Proview Technology, said this week it would ask customs officials to stop imports and exports of iPads, a move that might disrupt global sales because the tablets are made in China. The iPads were seized in the central city of Zhengzhou and the eastern port of Qingdao, a website run by China Business News said. Seizures were reported earlier in the cities of Shijiazhuang and Xuzhou. Proview said it asked regulators in more than 40 cities to investigate possible trademark violations. Chinese media say Proview is deeply in debt and observers have suggested the company needs a large settlement to repay creditors. "We've appealed to Apple through its agents to have a settlement, but so far we haven't received any response from them," said a Proview lawyer, Xie Xianghui. He declined to say how much Proview wants. An employee of the press office of Zhengzhou's Administration of Industry and Commerce confirmed some iPads were seized there. A spokesman for Qingdao's Administration of Industry and Commerce said he knew of no order to seize iPads, but said the agency was monitoring the legal process. A spokesman for Weihai's commerce agency said he knew of no citywide seizures but said local offices might be investigating sales. He refused to give his name. Shenzhen Proview Technology is a subsidiary of LCD screen-maker Proview International Holdings, headquartered in Hong Kong. Proview registered the iPad trademark in China in 2001. Apple bought rights to the name from a Taiwan company affiliated with Proview, but the mainland company says it still owns the name in China. A Chinese court rejected Apple's claim to the name in China last year. Apple has appealed, and has accused Proview of failing to honour its agreement. Apple cited a Hong Kong court ruling last year that concluded Proview and the Taiwan company were both controlled by the same Taiwanese businessman, Yang Long-san. The judge granted a temporary order barring Proview from transferring rights to the iPad name in China.