Thursday, February 23, 2012

Apple, Proview trade barbs during Shanghai trial

www.tech-sanity.com
Apple claims iPad sales are 'national interest'
Lawyers for Apple and Proview exchanged heated words today in a Shanghai court hearing, according to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Proview is seeking a ban on iPad sales in the city as a part of its ongoing trademark dispute with Apple. "Apple has no right to sell iPads under that name," said a lawyer for Proview Shenzhen, Xie Xianghui. Proview once sold a product called the IPAD, or Internet Personal Access Device.
The product has been unavailable for years however. "Proview has no product, no markets, no customers and no suppliers. It has nothing," a lawyer for Apple told the court. "Apple has huge sales in China. Its fans line up to buy Apple products. The ban, if executed, would not only hurt Apple sales but it would also hurt China's national interest."

Outside of court, Xie told reporters that both Apple and Proview have a "willingness" to negotiate. "Official negotiation hasn't started yet, and both sides will submit their plans before the talks. A settlement outside the court is quite possible," he explained. Proview has previously said that it will continue legal actions against Apple while pursuing a settlement at the same time. A ruling in the Shanghai case could take weeks or months.


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