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Proview Seeking to Cut Off Apple's Worldwide Supply of iPads
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If the Chinese government acted in totally rationale ways, that would be correct. But the Chinese government actually acts in very inconsistent ways. I took a lot of flack on an earlier posting in a different thread where I suggested that Apple should threaten to leave China if this case is pursued (because the Chinese courts are not independent of the government, and therefore, biased).
But this also displays a weakness on Apple's part. By concentrating almost all manufacturing in China, they subject themselves to this kind of abuse by the authorities. And that's aside from the issue of how the workers are treated. Apple would do well to decentralize manufacturing. They already supposedly have several different manufacturers supplying screens -- they need to do the same for assembly. And it would be much fairer if manufacturing took place closer to the markets they serve in any case.
It seems to me that Apple's legal department should have dotted every I and crossed every T when Apple bought the rights from Proview Taipei.
Republic of China (Taiwan) != People's Republic China (China), so even if everything is fine with Proview Taipei, just freaking make sure, will you?
Republic of China (Taiwan) != People's Republic China (China), so even if everything is fine with Proview Taipei, just freaking make sure, will you?
Rare earth materials aren't in short supply due to lack of mineral deposits worldwide; more like lack of profitability to mine them. Governments could create a cost support structure for strategic materials including rare earths that would alleviate the problem, pretty much what China did I suspect, but there would still be environmental concerns with mining at many sites in the first world.
It all comes down to cost.
Big difference between pulling product from stores when you have rights to a name in that country vs. halting exports meant for other countries where you don't have rights.
Who is to say, they did not. The fact legal action is taken against you has no relation to being in the right or the wrong. I could take Apple to court because my great grandfather had a dream 120 years ago. If I owned the leadership and courts of a country, I could even get a judgement. People make silly claims every day in court. If those silly people own silly judges, they get their little judgements every day.
That's for brick and mortar stores resembling Apple stores selling (from what I know) genuine Apple products. I'm talking about the numerous little stores that don't pretend to be Apple stores and sell fake Apple products.
It seems hypocritical and bullying in nature to me for China to be doing this to Apple now.
Or, maybe, Proview and the Chinese government are choosing to interpret the contract differently than when it was originally signed. But of course that COULDN'T be it because the Chinese government is SO trustworthy...
Absolutely. Why would anyone fight Apple? They should be allowed to do as they please.
This can become an eye-opener for the uncontrollable risks doing business with China.
Ok, they own the trademark for China so a ban to sale within that country is understandable; an export ban is not. Just skipping engraving might not be enough. If hardball is the game: marks on the printed circuit, inside the firmware, on the battery etc. might be enough to enforce a ban.
So it can become a really nasty game.
I wonder if Apple just have to pay and write it off as educational payment themselves. I wish they don't ! They have enough lawer to check the rules in China.
But also china need to be very very carefully that they don't make companies too angry. An export ban should not be possible for a country who wants to be the plant of the world. Very risky for them too. Other companies will watch too.
Getting really interessting this case.
A fair compromise could be: pay them 100m$ and license the TM.
Ok, they own the trademark for China so a ban to sale within that country is understandable; an export ban is not. Just skipping engraving might not be enough. If hardball is the game: marks on the printed circuit, inside the firmware, on the battery etc. might be enough to enforce a ban.
So it can become a really nasty game.
I wonder if Apple just have to pay and write it off as educational payment themselves. I wish they don't ! They have enough lawer to check the rules in China.
But also china need to be very very carefully that they don't make companies too angry. An export ban should not be possible for a country who wants to be the plant of the world. Very risky for them too. Other companies will watch too.
Getting really interessting this case.
A fair compromise could be: pay them 100m$ and license the TM.
I think it is time to cause China's economy to suffer a spontaneous existence failure. I am not the kind of person who looks to see what country a thing was manufactured in. That said, these silly little games make me want the people of China to starve.
Note to China. If you want a strong economy, don't piss off the American consumer.
Note to China. If you want a strong economy, don't piss off the American consumer.
Why not?? they shouldn't be producing things under trademark that they don't own.
I am genuinely worried here, please tell me you were joking. I need to know that people are not misinformed and making ridiculous statements like this.
Apple did nothing wrong. They purchased the rights to the name. They even purchased the rights to the name in China. Now, this third rate company (probabbly under the orders of their government) is changing the rules of the deal. China does not want Apple to build factories out of their country. This is a warning shot.
Pay off the stupid company, then build factories in other countries as fast as you can and cut China out. It is time for the PRC to starve.
See, Apple? That's what you get for voluntarily working to improve Chinese labor practices!
No matter what the outcome, this shines a light on risk that should make any company think twice about whether the savings in China are worth it. Often that answer is still going to be Yes... but not quite as often as before. Lawyers and extortions don't come cheap!
No matter what the outcome, this shines a light on risk that should make any company think twice about whether the savings in China are worth it. Often that answer is still going to be Yes... but not quite as often as before. Lawyers and extortions don't come cheap!
That is nice. From now on, When I purchase something, I will check to see what country it was manufactured in. If it was China and there is a competing product manufactured in any other country, I will purchase that other product. I don't care how much more I pay.
If it was not made in China, it will be better quality and last longer.
If you are genuinely worried about some random post on an internet forum then we both share the same comprehension deficit disorder.
