Apple iPad threatened with import, export ban in China over trademark fight

Beijing, Feb 15 (ANI): A Chinese tech company that says it owns the rights to the iPad trademark, has asked the country's customs authorities to ban all imports and exports of Apple's widely popular computer tablet.

China-based Proview Electronics won its case in December against the US-based tech giant for alleged infringement of its trademarked iPad name, and recently sued Apple for 1.6 billion dollars.

According to The Telegraph, Proview has already taken legal action to try to prevent Apple selling iPads in its own stores in China, which is the company's fastest-growing market.

"Apple wants to postpone and continue infringement of the iPad in China," Roger Xie, a lawyer for Proview, told Bloomberg.

According to legal analysts, Proview's action is designed to put pressure on Apple to settle the dispute.

They also believe that besides being Apple's biggest potential market, China is also the base for the majority of the production of the iPad, and therefore a ban would prove crippling.

Meanwhile, Apple says that it acquired the rights to the trademark from Proview for ten countries, including China, and that Proview 'refuses to honour their agreement with Apple in China.'

Proview's attack comes a day after Apple announced that it has allowed independent inspectors into its manufacturing facilities in China following heavy criticism over the working conditions of employees. (ANI)