Legal Troubles

Arguably the biggest problem that Apple has had with the iPad is the legal troubles that have ensued. The biggest current lawsuit is for roughly $3.6 billion. (Peckham, 2012) A company in China called Proview is claiming that Apple stole their idea for the iPad. This is probably a bit farfetched seeing as an iPad is a form of computer tablet which are becoming exceedingly popular. While each tablet is very different, they are all also extremely similar. Nevertheless, Proview is putting up a fight against a company that has more money than the United States. Proview’s new angle: It’s alleging Apple’s use of a shell company to snatch up the iPad trademark in China for a trifling $55,000 in December 2009 was fraudulent, and Proview’s asking for $2 billion to make amends. (Peckham, 2012) That’s on top of the 10 billion yuan (about US$1.6 billion) Proview’s already sued Cupertino for in China property. (Peckham, 2012) Also very recently Apple had to fight a legal battle against Motorola Mobility, in a German court, in order to continue selling iPads in their country. (Investor’s, 2012) Motorola had a temporary injunction back in December, but now that Google is buying Motorola, Apple is appealing the injunction. (Investor’s, 2012) The latest decision is a preliminary ruling in Apple’s appeal. (Investor’s, 2012) Motorola, Apple, and Samsung are waging a legal battle over mobile technology patent rights. (Investor’s, 2012) The one good thing for the iPad is such a legal mess, they are actually winning in both cases.