Apple To Pay $60 Million Over iPad Trademark Dispute

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Apple To Pay $60 Million Over iPad Trademark Dispute

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 2, 2012 @03:00AM from the money-fixes-everything dept.

tekgoblin writes "Today a Chinese court has stated Apple, Inc. has agreed to pay a Chinese company $60 Million dollars to settle their infamous iPad name dispute. In 2006 Apple purchased the Taiwanese rights to the name 'iPad' from the company Proview Electronics. In China however, the trademarked name was still owned by Proview Technologies, a Shenzhen based subsidiary of Proview Electronics. Since 2011, Proview Technologies has battled Apple in the Xicheng district court and in 2012 the Santa Clara Superior Court. Both cases are still ongoing."

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The price of business in China. by CountBrass · 2012-07-02 03:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

US companies are forbidden by law to pay bribes so they have to go about it a round about way.
This is just the price of doing business in China.

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Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
1. Re:The price of business in China. by vlm · 2012-07-02 03:37 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  US companies are forbidden by law to pay bribes so they have to go about it a round about way.
  Oh spare me. Its called hiring an onsite expediter, not all this legal foolishness. Sometimes you have to hire a whole team of expediters. All above board, income taxes paid and everything. Amazing how nothing happens over there until you "hire" an "expediter" and then magically everything works. Sometimes they're called "inspectors". There's a whole culture organized around it.
  
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  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
2. Re:The price of business in China. by Nerdfest · 2012-07-02 03:38 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The US does not protect its companies? Have you seen the way copyright protections are headed? They're not for the people.
3. Re:The price of business in China. by clarkkent09 · 2012-07-02 04:30 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Ah, the old protectionism. That boat has sailed a long time ago and free traders have won. Get used to it.
  Btw, the USA is 4th in the world in the standard of living (HDI rankings), China is 101st. Our per capita GDP is around $50K, China's is about $8K. Why do you think their way of doing things is better?
  
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  Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
60 Million only part of deal by Sponge+Bath · 2012-07-02 03:16 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm betting the flood of Apple investment in Chinese factories during these proceedings was the larger part of the deal with the Chinese government to allow Apple to use the trademark. The 60 million is more for show so Apple can be painted as being in the wrong instead of being shook down. In the end, Apple will continue to make billions and the Chinese government will get a cut.
Re:How ironic by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-07-02 03:29 · Score: 4, Insightful

Actually... Apple paid for the name in good faith.

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"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
One China Policy or not? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-02 05:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

Seems like it's "One China, except when two Chinas can charge you twice"