Apple loses iPad trademark case in China

Apple (AAPL.NASDAQ) may face problems selling its iPad tablet in China following the loss of a trademark lawsuit against Proview Technology, the Financial Times reported. A Shenzhen court earlier this week rejected Apple’s claim in China to own the “iPad” trademark, which Proview, a Taiwanese-owned flatscreen contract manufacturer, registered in a number of countries between 2000 and 2004. Apple bought the “iPad” trademark from Proview in 2006, but Proview alleges that Apple failed to obtain the specific trademark for China. Proview Technology (Shenzhen) has sued Apple resellers in Shenzhen and Huizhou with an aim of blocking iPads sales in the cities, and two hearings are scheduled in December and January. “We are starting with these two cities, and if we are successful in getting iPad sales stopped, we will consider going after Apple resellers elsewhere in China,” said Xie Xianghui, a lawyer with Grandall, the Chinese firm representing Proview.