Proview seeks to regain global rights to iPad name

Proview Electronics says it is now seeking to regain worldwide rights to the iPad name and is suing Apple for alleged fraud and unfair competition, hoping to have a 2009 sale of the trademark ruled void.

The Taiwan-based maker of LED lights said that it had amended its lawsuit filed earlier this month in Santa Clara, California's Superior Court. Apart from having the trademark sale voided, it also is seeking unspecified compensation, a share of Apple's profits from alleged "unfair competition" and an order for Apple to stop using the trademarks. Proview contends Apple intentionally misled it when it bought iPad trademarks through a special purpose company called IP Application Development Ltd. that concealed it was acting on Apple's behalf. Experts in the high-tech field say such tactics are common given the secrecy surrounding new product launches, especially Apple's. But Proview says IP Application Development told it that it wanted the trademark because it was an abbreviation of its name.