Sam Oliver
China's widespread online reaction to the Proview settlement was captured on Monday by The Wall Street Journal, which noted the word "thug" was a common word choice among popular social networking sites in China like Sina Weibo. "Intellectual property awareness is something to be supported, but Proview is definitely guilty of playing the thug," user "Gosipier" wrote.
Other users joked that Proview's $60 million settlement could prompt others to begin registering various Apple-like "iProduct" names in hopes of getting their own eventual settlement. But Proview made its own product called the "iPAD," or Internet Personal Access Device," beginning in the late '90s.
Many users expressed excitement over the settlement, hoping that the resolution of the dispute between Apple and Proview could lead to the release of the latest third-generation iPad in China. The new iPad was granted regulatory approval by the government in China in late March, but it has yet to go on sale.
China has become a very important part of Apple's business in recent years, as the nation now leads the world in iOS device activations. Last year, the region was the second-largest market for Apple, behind only the U.S.
The Guangdong High People's Court announced that Apple had reached an agreement with Proview to pay $60 million for the rights to the Chinese iPad trademark on Sunday. Earlier reports suggested Proview was seeking $400 million for the iPad trademark, and the company was said to have turned down a $16 million settlement offer from Apple.
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
37 Comments
"But Proview made its own product called the "iPAD," or Internet Personal Access Device," beginning in the late '90s"... Yeah, and have you seen this product? It's a lame clone of the first, translucent iMacs! This should have been reason enough for Proview to forfeit any rights to the IPAD name, as well as to pay Apple retroactive damages for their blatant samsung-style copying...
I'm actually a little surprised about the general response of the Chinese. They're usually known as a quite conservative culture, so I assumed (wrongly) that they'd back Proview because of the high values they have to their own companies and such. Nice to hear that they also see Proview as some sort of patent-esk thug :)
On the other hand, I'm also equally as surprised that Apple didn't backfired Proview's claim by stating that Proview's iPAD was a direct copy of the original translusent iMac... and then gétting 60mln dollars instead of having to pay it. Oh well, a quick finish might be good in this case. I bet Apple's busy enough fighting Motorola and Samsung at this moment :)
Proview is not getting the 60 Million. It's creditors are finally going to get paid, courtesy Apple. Then Proview can dissolve as the has been company that failed that it was/is!
I can only hope that Proviews debt is far more than the settlement.
I wonder if M$ is a secret partner in Proview ??????