Mention the word iPad and you instantly think of Apple’s iOS tablets; as everyone knows the iPad moniker belongs to the fruity named company right? Well when it comes to China it appears that the iPad moniker doesn’t belong to Apple but to a firm called Proview, and the iPad moniker is causing a bit of a legal stir in China.

According to an article over on Slash Gear by way of Reuters, long before Apple began using the iPad moniker for their iOS tablets, Proview Technology has held the trademark on the term iPad, since 2000 in fact.

Apple apparently sued Proview for infringing Apple’s iPad trademark; and now apparently a court in southern China has rejected Apple’s trademark infringement claim and thus it would appear that Apple doesn’t own the iPad moniker in China at least.

So with the court rejecting Apple’s claim it looks like Apple has a couple of options open, they could halt selling the Apple iPad in China, rename the iPad something else for the Chinese market, or work out a licensing deal with Proview technology, which would seem the best option to me.

China is no doubt an important market for Apple and their gear so no doubt they will wish to work something out as soon as possible, as Proview is seeking a hefty $1.5 billion in damages. Apple has apparently confirmed the lawsuit but declined to comment further on the matter.

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