Apple Faces Trademark Suit over iPad

Apple's legal wars expanded into China recently, when a company called Proview Electronics filed a trademark infringement suit against the iPad maker in California. Proview's parent company, Proview International Holdings, claims it owns the trademark to the iPad name, according to The Associated Press.

The company reportedly created an "iFamily" line of products, including an iPAD. The latter debuted in 2000, but did not catch on as well as Apple's iPad did a decade later.

At issue is whether Proview sold the iPad trademark rights in China to Apple in 2009. Apple says yes. Proview says the sale of the China trademark rights was not valid, but the company has not disputed the sale of other worldwide trademark rights in the deal, worth $55,000.

Prior to filing suit in California, Proview instituted actions in courts in Hong Kong and in the Guangdong province of China. Both of those courts have sided with Proview. Apple is appealing the rulings.