Apple's hollow Hong Kong victory
February 15, 2012 | BY
clpstaff &clp articlesApple has published a statement highlighting a victory over Proview in a Hong Kong court that is interesting, but irrelevant.
"We bought Proview's worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago. Proview refuses to honour their agreement with Apple in China and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter. Our case is still pending in mainland China," Apple told the BBC on Tuesday – its latest response in its high-profile dispute with Proview Technology Shenzhen.
Apple's statement is part of a battle for publicity that is running in parallel with the litigation in the courts. “They are projecting that China's legal system is complicated and Hong Kong's is unbiased. Hong Kong courts say Apple should win so the public believes Apple should win in China as well,” says Kenny Wong, partner at Mayer Brown JSM in Hong Kong. 
The Hong Kong courts granted an interlocutory judgement as Proview Shenzhen attempted to transfer the mark to Yoke Technology, another company based in Shenzhen. This occurred around the same time Apple took Proview to court for not transferring the mark.
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