In another legal twist within the litigation happy tech sector, Taiwan based Proview Electronics is suing Apple for a staggering US$1.6 billion - and an apology, alleging that the Cupertino computing giant had infringed its trademark for the iPad brand-name.
It appears that Apple had purchased the trademark from Proview
for a mere US$55,000, using a front company called IP Application Development.
However things turned sour as Proview claim the deal didn't include the rights to the use iPad brand in the Chinese market, as those were owned by a Chinese subsidiary of Proview Technology.
Proview is seeking a total of 10 billion Yuan (US$1.6 billion) in damages and as would be expected, Apple has countersued, arguing that they are now the rightful owner of the trademark so there is no legal case to be answered.
The case has already been heard before a Chinese court who have already found in favour of Proview, but Apple is appealing.
