Apple’s iPad removed off shelves in many cities, as AIC starts investigations

The iPad trademark dispute between Apple. Inc and Taipei-based Proview International Holdings Ltd., whose Shenzhen branch registered the trademark “iPad” in Mainland back in 2001, hit a new level. Many local departments of the Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC) have stared investigations to iPad stores and retailers to take iPad tablets off their shelves.On Feb. 13, according to the lawyer representing Proview’s branch in Shenzhen, now near 20 local departments of AIC nationwide, including Shangdong, Heibei, Jiangsu, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai and Sichuan, have launched such investigations.

Shijiazhuang, Heibei: the local department of AIC confiscated 45 iPadsAccording to the local newspaper, the stores selling Apple products dared not put the iPads on shelves to sell, due to investigations from the local department of AIC over the infringement.The officials from the local AIC department said they have received the letter from Proview’s lawyer, and they would confiscate all Apple’s iPad tablets accused of copyright infringement by law and give the Apple stores fines up to five times the market prices. So far, 45 iPad tablets have been seized by the officials.Zhengzhou, Henan: the local department of AIC confiscated 10 iPads and sealed up 87Authentic iPad tablets could not be found in the shelves of Apple stores. But if you want, the sales persons can still get you an iPad from their storeroom.On Feb. 13, the local officials of AIC have seized 10 iPads, and sealed up up 87 right at the scene.Luoyang, Henan: Part of Apple stores have taken iPads off their shelves, while the local AIC started launching a full investigationA few of Apple stores only started removing iPads off their shelves in Luoyang Market. But the local AIC officials said to the reporters that Proview company has reached them, and they were launching a full investigation.Weihai, Shangdong: The local AIC bans selling of iPads, and waits from the final judgementSince the end of last year, Weihai department of AIC has banned selling of iPads, after Apple lost the lawsuit on the iPad trademark infringement on Dec. 28, 2011, and now they are waiting for the final judgement on Feb. 29, 2012, from the court as Apple appealed for the second time.Quanzhou, Fujian: Part of Apple retailers have re-put iPads to shevels, as the local AIC did not receive the complaint from Proview yetAccording to the local newspaper, the five authorized retail shops of Apple in Quanzhou were still selling iPad tablets as normal, and the tablet’s market prices were still strong.One store’s salespersons told reporters that they were ever noticed to take iPads off shelves in the morning, but soon in the afternoon they were allowed to sell iPads again.An official from the local AIC explained, they have learned the infringement case, but since they have not received the relevant complaints yet, they did not make further moves.Changsha, Hunan: iPads are sold in Apple stores as normalThe senior official of the local AIC said, they would not remove iPads off the shops’ shelves, before receiving the notice for the State AIC.Shanghai, Tianjing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hubei: Apple’s retail shops were found selling iPads as before tooMany retail shops had sufficient iPads in stock, and the sales were not influenced by the trademark dispute.The local departments of the AIC said they either received no notice from the higher authority or the Proview’s lawyer, or just started contacting the Proview’s Shenzhen company.The salespersons of Apple stores expressed their worries that the local AIC departments will get themselves involved definitely once the court turns down the Apple’s lawsuit again on Feb. 29, and at that time, it is highly likely that all other products related to iPad will be removed off shelves too.