The world’s hottest selling tablet, the Apple iPad might have to be sold under a different name in China. Four centuries ago, Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Although there has been an insatiable demand for all things Apple in China, the iPad name is not so sweet there.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Proview Technology, a computer display manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China, has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against Apple. Proview claims that they have owned the “iPad” trademark in China since 2001. Apple is appealing to a higher court because it claims it owns the iPad trademark in mainland China.
According to reports online, Apple has lost a trademark dispute in China over the iOS tablet’s name and will have to pay up a hefty fine of about $1.5 billion if it wants to continue selling it with the name “iPad”. Apparently Apple had previously purchased the rights to the trademarked name from the company that owned the name “iPad” in China since 2000 – but the Shenzen Municipal Intermediate People’s Court has now been decided that the transfer of trademarks was invalid.
Although the odds of Apple changing its iPad name may be low, CNBC’s Squawk on the Street twittered its fans and asked, “TWEET US! Apple lawsuit for using word 'iPad.' If Apple ever had to change the iPad name - what's your pitch to Tim Cook?” Here are few of the creative answers: iTab, appPad, myPad or iTablet. There are also some humorous replies with eyePad, iFad, uPad, everybodyPad, or StevePad. Hopefully the consumers in China will not be asking, “iPad, iPad, wherefore art thou?” So, if needed, how would you rename the iPad?
