The ‘iPad’ trademark dispute in China ended up with a settlement deal of $60 million paid by Apple to Proview Shenzhen, according to reports (see WIPR September/October 2012).
The iPad is one of the most cutting-edge tablet computers on the market, and the trademark is uniquely associated with Apple computers.
The significance of the ‘iPad’ trademark dispute is that the settlement sum is an indication of the potential value of the trademark in the market, though the case itself concerns the risks of trademark assignment there. In some ways, it could be said that the ‘iPad’ trademark was Apple’s most valuable asset in China. Therefore, $60 million looks like a reasonable price for Apple to offer to secure rights to the ‘iPad’ trademark, given the growing consumer market in China.
"ALTHOUGH HONG KONG AND MACAU ARE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS OF CHINA, REGISTRATION OF A MARK IN CHINA DOES NOT EXTEND PROTECTION TO THESE TWO REGIONS."
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Apple, Proview, China Trademark Office
