iPhonAsia comment: At first view this is a minor story and paltry settlement amount ($58K). Upon further review, this could be significant. The court system in China is closely allied with government policies and sentiments. Piracy has oft been overlooked and mark infringement is rampant in China. Why would a judge side with the outside firm (Apple)? Perhaps because Apple is making serious moves in China … opening more Apple Stores in China, and possibly assisting China Mobile with TD-SCDMA (TD iPhone 3G in Q1 2009), and maybe working with China Unicom for another iPhone 3G (W-CDMA) launch in mid-to-late 2009?
This court judgement in Apple’s favor may well be a bit of payback for Apple’s current and forthcoming business initiatives in China … which means cash and employment for locals … This judgement may also (we can only hope) signal further government crackdowns against smaller iClone rips.
Apple’s iPhone can be mass produced yet each one is truly > something special
… and nothing like a gray market iClone experiment gone awry.
See also > “They [Apple's lawyers] came at me guns blazing”
Apple wins lawsuit against Chinese electronics company
www.chinaview.cn  |
 SHENYANG, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — U.S. electronic manufacturer, Apple Inc., won a trademark infringement lawsuit against an electronics company based in south China’s Shenzhen City.
According to the Intermediate People’s Court in Shenyang, the capital of the Liaoning Province, New Apple Concept Digital Technology Co., Ltd., was ordered on Tuesday to pay 400,000 yuan (58,000 U.S. dollars) for infringing on Apple’s trademark and logo. Apple Inc. registered the trademark “APPLE” and the apple logo when it entered China’s market in 1993. It has exclusive trademark rights till 2013. New Apple Concept Digital Technology Co., Ltd., established in Shenzhen in 2005, used the pattern of an apple with two wings as its logo. The court said it looked similar to Apple’s logo. It put the pattern on its products, wrappings and Website. In 2006, Apple Inc. told the New Apple Concept company to stop infringing on its trademark. In April of this year, the New Apple Concept company was sued. The court ordered the Shenzhen company “to stop infringement practices” and pay damages to Apple Inc..
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[...] Apple won as well albeit only $58,000 when they sued New Apple Concept Digital Technology Co., Ltd., It’s sad especially when the primary reason Apple may have won is because of the possibility they will assist China Unicom with another iPhone launch. It is no wonder that companies such as McDonalds are so aggressive toward companies they feel are infringing on their brand. [...]