Apple’s iPads seized in Chinese city over trademark infringement

Chinese authorities in Xuzhou city, in coastal Jiangsu Province have begun confiscating iPads from local retailers as the ongoing trademark battle heats up between Apple and a little known near bankrupt Chinese computer display company Proview Technology (Shenzhen).

State-owned CCTV television said that the iPad is under "temporary impoundment" from retailers in Xuzhou city, home to 1.8 million people, a report that was also confirmed by Ma Dongxiao, a lawyer for Proview's creditors and the company.

According to media reports, authorities have seized around 45 iPads from outlets in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province, while some retailers had removed the tablet PC from displays, and others were selling them under the counter.

The seizure comes after a Shenzhen court in December 2011 rejected Apple's lawsuits on its iPad trademark infringement in China, which may force the technology giant to sell its iconic tablet under a new name in the country or pay $1.6 billion to Proview Technology (Shenzhen) to keep using the name.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant had filed two lawsuits against local monitor maker Proview Technology (Shenzhen), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Proview International Holdings Ltd, for infringing on its iPad trademark in China.

The Municipal Intermediate People's Court in Shenzhen, had earlier rejected both of Apple's lawsuits, saying that the sale of the trademark by Proview's Taiwan subsidiary was not valid (See: Apple may have to pay local firm $1.6 bn for use of 'iPad' trademark in China).