Apple settles China dispute over iPad name for $60M

Apparently, we Filipinos are not the only ones getting screwed by China with their plans of global domination by claiming rights to anything that they laid their eyes on. Apple has recently paid a huge chunk of money for a dispute that the company thought was already settled a few years back. Don’t worry Apple, we feel your pain.

The Cupertino-based company has paid Shenzhen Proview Technology (SPT) a staggering $60PHP 3,521INR 5,085EUR 57CNY 437 million for the global rights over the name iPad which the company thought they’ve already purchased back in 2009. But the Chinese Court ruled out the settlement made 2 years back and said that the rights were never transferred and that SPT still has the full rights over the name iPad last December. Due to the current financial status of the Chinese manufacturer, the company asked the court to order the Chinese authorities to seize iPads to force Apple to settle the costly dispute.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Shenzhen Proview Technology was initially asking for $400PHP 23,474INR 33,900EUR 381CNY 2,911 million for the coveted tablet name according to one of the company lawyers. But because the Hong Kong-headquartered manufacturer was really in a bad shape monetarily, the company agreed for lesser amount to cover for their debts.

Apple could’ve just given SPT and their pathetic dispute a cold shoulder but they can’t afford to lose their second largest market (China) for $60M which isn’t that substantial considering the amount they’d lose if they didn’t. After the payment was made, Guangdong High People’s Court stated that the “the iPad dispute resolution is ended” after “Apple Inc. has transferred $60PHP 3,521INR 5,085EUR 57CNY 437 million to the account of the Guangdong High Court as requested in the mediation letter.”

The situation that Apple was in, is in some aspects, similar to what is currently happening at Panatag shoal. The only difference is that the Chinese Government is not asking Philippines to pay a certain amount for the rights over their ancestral fishing grounds. And even if the communist government asks for it, I doubt that our country will be willing to pay for something that is really ours in the first place. Feel free to express your thoughts (and emotion) about this topic.

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