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Proview Seeking to Cut Off Apple's Worldwide Supply of iPads
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Yup, could be almost anything. And all those people saying Apple could just up and leave for Brazil don't seem to understand that these same problems exist in Brazil too. Probably not quite as severe as China but you can't just move an operation as big as Apple in without setting up relations. Building the factory is the easy part.
Except that, by leaving, China would retain all the manufacturing gear & knowledge involved. Having grown used to free golden eggs, they may be tempted to seize production thereof for their own - and we know how that story turns out (and was a story told because too many kids don't get it).
I'll leave the whole patent thing for another day (spoiler alert, I think the patent system is currently a mess and is not being used for the originally intended purpose but I'm not a patent lawyer so beats me).
I was mostly just pointing out that this is probably just a move by someone or a group to increase their standing/bargaining ability. It may not even be primarily to extort money from Apple (that may just be a bonus). An iPad export ban will not happen for the same reason iPad clones will continue to be made.
Actually, the reason the Brazil plant exists is because Apple was being squeezed. Apple adding more production/jobs to Brazil to grow manufacturing there will not be hampered by Brazilian officials as they want the money/jobs coming in to the country.
Apple just needs to reduce manufacturing in China to the point where they are only making enough product for use in China.
Apple should probably start manufacturing some stuff in the US and test manufacturing methods towards reducing costs. The could start with the Mac Pro since the higher price that they command could eat some of the costs of moving manufacturing to the US and Canada.
And then they could do a couple of production lines for a high volume product to refine automated manufacturing even more.
In any case, Apple does need manufacturing in more locations around the word. The amount they are manufacturing in China feels too much like having all your eggs in one basket.
Canada is still part of the British Empire (such as it is), which still does enforce its claims over its dominion. Quebec is still stewing over its close encounter with independence. At some point, all or part of the world's largest country may decide to shake its tacit rulers, who may decide to not just remain figureheads. Seems impossible now, but hasn't been all that long since - and may be about time for - Canada fought for control of its own borders.
Reminds me of a couple big companies that were all buddy-buddy doing their own complementary things, until one decided to play the other's game for keeps.
Only the die hards on this board care about what happens to Apple. The average person will just go out and buy something else if there is no ipad.
With the numbers involved (45 iPads) we can be sure this wasn't done to stop the sales of iPads in China. Quite the opposite, I would bet that they were all sold in China at 100% profit.
I predict a name change to Pad, just in China. That means a little expense managing case printing and slightly different strings in software, but worth it.
Because if Apple caves into extortion this time, the floodgates will open to more of the same. Apple cant pull out of China (now) and they probably cant win if the courts arent above board. But they also cant pay up, or it will never end.
Apple did this with AirPort -> AirMac (not such a key product, Ill grant) so there is precedent. Everyone will still call it an iPad verbally anyway!
(I wonder if Apple will sue Proviewthe parent companyfor selling them a name with international rights, and then letting one of their own subsidiaries change the terms and value of what Apple had bought?)
Because if Apple caves into extortion this time, the floodgates will open to more of the same. Apple cant pull out of China (now) and they probably cant win if the courts arent above board. But they also cant pay up, or it will never end.
Apple did this with AirPort -> AirMac (not such a key product, Ill grant) so there is precedent. Everyone will still call it an iPad verbally anyway!
(I wonder if Apple will sue Proviewthe parent companyfor selling them a name with international rights, and then letting one of their own subsidiaries change the terms and value of what Apple had bought?)
Standard practice around here. Apple can do no wrong. It is fine for Apple to abuse its power and size but any one attacking Apple is wrong.
Chances are Apple legal messed up big time and it is coming back to bite them.
Time to go to war with china I see and straight them out
Let see the biggest pirated county in the world is saying that Apple is stealing their stufff.
boo boo.
Let see the biggest pirated county in the world is saying that Apple is stealing their stufff.
boo boo.
In related news, I heard that Tim Cook asked how many former Soviet Union nukes $100 billion dollars would buy? I guess he didn't know that Steve Jobs was speaking figuratively when he mentioned going nuclear on companies that annoyed him.
I see this ending one of two ways.
The Chinese government sides with Proview. Apple pays up. The Chinese are happy for a little while. In the meantime numerous other foreign companies see the state sponsored extortion for what it is and begin to increase their move out of China (it is happening already people). Apple will also begin to actively, but quietly begin the work necessary to move out of China. Not completely, but I see at least a majority. This has to be a slap in the face of "all your eggs in one basket" point of failure for Apple.
The Chinese government sides with Apple. Eventually, a large portion of the world's manufacturers are going to move out of China. Just like they moved out of the US, Japan, and Korea before it. However, they will be better off in the long run because it will give them more time to shore up their homegrown manufacturing economy.
If I were the Chinese government I would make Proview take one for the home team. Even if, and I honestly don't believe this, Proview was right in all of this.
I see this ending one of two ways.
The Chinese government sides with Proview. Apple pays up. The Chinese are happy for a little while. In the meantime numerous other foreign companies see the state sponsored extortion for what it is and begin to increase their move out of China (it is happening already people). Apple will also begin to actively, but quietly begin the work necessary to move out of China. Not completely, but I see at least a majority. This has to be a slap in the face of "all your eggs in one basket" point of failure for Apple.
The Chinese government sides with Apple. Eventually, a large portion of the world's manufacturers are going to move out of China. Just like they moved out of the US, Japan, and Korea before it. However, they will be better off in the long run because it will give them more time to shore up their homegrown manufacturing economy.
If I were the Chinese government I would make Proview take one for the home team. Even if, and I honestly don't believe this, Proview was right in all of this.
That's the other standard practice around here. Seek out as many ways as possible to portray anyone who supports Apple in a bad light. Criticize for the sake of criticizing, and then when people point that out they're just "fanboys". Happiness comes from Apple stumbling, or even possibly stumbling, so they can throw it in eveyone else's face.
[rendered speechless by the boastful stupidity and ignorance on display in this thread]
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It's not smart to argue with 8 year olds. On behalf of the USA I would like to formally apologize for that poster's ignorance.
Is this a technicality kind of thing, where Apple can simply bypass the export ban by not labeling and/or packaging their iPads as "iPads", ship to somewhere else where they are legal to use that trademark, to finish labeling/packaging them as "iPads"?
I mean, if you aren't done assembling or packaging, can said unmarked, though somehow serialized tablets simply be regarded as parts/components?
I mean, if you aren't done assembling or packaging, can said unmarked, though somehow serialized tablets simply be regarded as parts/components?
It looks like Proview got more repsonse than they expected from their initial claim, and are now trying to milk it for all it is worth.
It is in the Chinese best interest to keep a good relationship with Apple/Foxconn, so I expect this issue will 'go away' in the next few months.
It is in the Chinese best interest to keep a good relationship with Apple/Foxconn, so I expect this issue will 'go away' in the next few months.
It's amazing how careless the comments around here are. So many people laughing off Proview and predicting Apple "simply" move production to other countries. This misses a HUGE point - that China is an extremely important growing market for Apple. I'm talking sales - not just production.
The arrogance and stupidity of my American countrymen is worrisome. Apple is smart enough not to have all of their eggs in this declining basket. They've moved a huge chunk of their cash reserves overseas and understand the importance of foreign/emerging markets.
As the proverb goes, pride goeth before the fall. These boards (and others) are rife with American hubris.
The arrogance and stupidity of my American countrymen is worrisome. Apple is smart enough not to have all of their eggs in this declining basket. They've moved a huge chunk of their cash reserves overseas and understand the importance of foreign/emerging markets.
As the proverb goes, pride goeth before the fall. These boards (and others) are rife with American hubris.
Would this be a good time to suggest bringing the manufacturing facilities back to Ireland? Never had any such problems here. No one came along and said "Hey, we already had the iPaddy, pay up!". We're cheaper than an American workforce too!
Bring the jobs home
Perhaps Apple should think about bringing, if not all, at least a portion of it's manufacturing jobs back to the USA. Made in America may cost Apple a little, however with their profits they can afford it.
Perhaps Apple should think about bringing, if not all, at least a portion of it's manufacturing jobs back to the USA. Made in America may cost Apple a little, however with their profits they can afford it.