Biting back at Apple

Apple has got itself into a mess over the iPad.

The company is embroiled in a legal battle with Proview Technology, a LCD screen maker in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, which originally registered the trademark in the European Union, China, Mexico, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam between 2000 and 2004.

Apple claims that in 2006 it bought the worldwide rights to the trademark, including the rights to the iPad name, from Taiwan-based Proview Electronics, whose legal agent also owns Proview Technology. However, Proview of Shenzhen says the sale did not cover the trademark's use in the Chinese mainland, where it is the owner of the iPad name.