Accusation comes after minor Proview court victory

Apple is now threatening to sue Proview for defamation as a part of the companies' ongoing iPad trademark dispute, says IDG News. On Monday Apple is reported to have sent a letter to Proview, insisting that Proview Shenzhen chairman Yang Rongshan stop releasing what Apple claims is false information. It warned Proview that it might otherwise launch the defamation suit.

"It is inappropriate to release information contrary to the facts to the media, especially when such disclosures have the effect of wrongfully causing damage to Apple's reputation," Apple's letter is quoted as saying. The document was provided by a source described by IDG as "familiar with the matter."

The letter comes in response to a Friday press conference by Yang, in which he insisted that Proview does hold the Chinese rights to the iPad name. That, in turn, was made after the emergence of evidence that Apple might well hold the trademark. In its letter Apple argues that contrary to his press conference statements, Yang knew a that Taiwanese subsidiary was in talks for mainland Chinese rights, and that Proview headquarters in fact negotiated and approved the deal.

Proview has managed to score another minor legal victory however, according to the Associated Press. Xie Xianghui, a lawyer for Proview Shenzhen, says that the Intermediate People's Court in Huizhou has ruled that distributors should halt iPad sales in the country. The win is at least Proview's second in mainland China, the first of which Apple is appealing. A court in Shanghai is due to hear yet another related case on Wednesday, and in some parts of China iPads have been confiscated from shelves. Apple continues to refer to a Hong Kong ruling in its favor as support for its position.

On Friday a Proview spokesperson said the company would consider dropping all legal actions if Apple agreed to pay $400 million in compensation. Proview may be motivated largely by money, as it recently filed for bankruptcy.

by MacNN Staff