Apple Faces Trademark Battle to Use 'Vision Pro' Name in China

[MacRumors]

Apple may be forced to change the name of its new mixed reality headset in China unless it can come to an agreement with Huawei, which already owns the "Vision Pro" trademark in the country.

Originally spotted by MyDrivers, the trademark was originally granted to Huawei on May 16, 2019, and gives the company exclusive rights to its use in China from November 28, 2021 to November 27, 2031.

Huawei actively uses the trademark in China, and offers a number of products under the Vision name, including smart TVs and smart glasses. If Apple intends to sell its headset in China and call it Vision Pro, it may have to enter into negotiations with Huawei to release the trademark for a price.

It would not be the first time Apple has had to pay a Chinese company to use a product name. Apple in 2012 paid Proview Technology $60 million for the rights to the "iPad" trademark in China. The payment followed several court cases in which Apple unsuccessfully argued that it had already acquired the rights for the name as part of a deal with Proview's Taiwanese arm.

Huawei "Vision Pro" trademark documents (Source: MyDrivers)​

Apple has said it plans to launch the Vision Pro headset in the United States early next year, with the product set to become available in "more countries" later in 2024.

Article Link: Apple Faces Trademark Battle to Use 'Vision Pro' Name in China

 

[ColBatGuano]

Perhaps they could market them as the Pision Vro head set in China.

 

[gleepskip]

If the factory workers save 100% of their earnings for just 9 months, they can afford one.

 

[Longplays]

Huawei will likely not sell or license the name to Apple.

Call it Apple Vision like Apple TV or Apple Watch?

How about iVision Pro?

 

[Zest28]

Just use a different name when they launch it in China. The Vision Pro is exclusive to the USA atm.

 

[Longplays]

If the factory workers save their 100% of their earnings for just 9 months, they can afford one.

Same logic applies with Ferrari. Factory workers do this and that to get a LaFerrari.

What I am trying to say is... it isn't a product for everyone.

 

[a m u n]

Huawei? They are the biggest Apple fans:

Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei told the Chinese media at a conference this week that Apple’s iPhone 12 is currently the best smartphone in the world, explaining that Cupertino’s device helps provide its very own technology is worth the money too.

Via: https://news.softpedia.com/news/hua...the-best-smartphone-in-the-world-532139.shtml

 

[Zest28]

Huawei? They are the biggest Apple fans:



Via: https://news.softpedia.com/news/hua...the-best-smartphone-in-the-world-532139.shtml

If you are a fan of someone, will you let him borrow your wife / girlfriend?

 

[gpat]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

 

[senttoschool]

If you are a fan of someone, will you let him borrow your wife / girlfriend?

Yes. Only if they let me watch.

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

Why? They will negotiate a fair price and if Huawei doesn’t take it then they will simply launch with a different name in China.

From WWDC sessions, it seems like Vision Pro name was kept secret or changed very late. Some engineers who worked on it were mentioning xrOS in videos.

 

[BvizioN]

If you are a fan of someone, will you let him borrow your wife / girlfriend?

No, but they can borrow my name anytime.

 

[matrix07]

If you are a fan of someone, will you let him borrow your wife / girlfriend?

In a heartbeat if we’re talking about swapping. 🙂

 

[Bonte]

Vision is a regular word that can't be trademarked, Apple Vision Pro should not be a problem, but it is China.

 

[bLackjackj]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

This is the problem with Apple. Of course they would have know this, they have a trillion dollar IP team! Yet they don't care and STILL went ahead with it. Only when the shoe is on the OTHER foot do they care.

 

[Isengardtom]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

Why?

Exxon is also “Esso” here in Europe on the gas stations

can always use a different name

 

[pp_amorim]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

Of course they did, they just don't care.

 

[pp_amorim]

Vision is a regular word that can't be trademarked, Apple Vision Pro should not be a problem, but it is China.

We are talking like China respects trademarks.

 

[steve62388]

'...more countries later in 2023'.

Later in 2024, surely? Looks like Macrumors bot has forgotten what year we're in. The AI has run amok!

 

[diddl14]

Probably not the primary or secondary market for this anyway. By the time these go mainstream, 2031 will not be far away.

 

[IsaacM]

The irony. China literally has knockoffs of everything and gets away with it.

 

[diddl14]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

Which probably means they actually did.

 

[Hildy]

Huawei doesn’t exactly have a strong history of respecting IP.., just ask Nortel. So why should anyone in the world respect Huawei’s claims to IP..?

Exclusive: Did Huawei bring down Nortel? Corporate espionage, theft, and the parallel rise and fall of two telecom giants

As Canada decides on whether to allow Huawei a role in the coming 5G wireless networks, one part of the story is vexing Nortel’s many fans

nationalpost.com

 

[darngooddesign]

Classic Apple. LOL

 

[Nozuka]

It's kinda absurd that Apple didn't check on this beforehand.

What makes you think they didn't? They likely already have a solution for it.

 

[gpat]

Huawei doesn’t exactly have a strong history of respecting IP.., just ask Nortel. So why should anyone in the world respect Huawei’s claims to IP..?

I suppose Apple could ignore this issue if they don't care about selling their products in China. Fair point, mate.