Apple "settles" China iPad trademark dispute for £38m

Apple have agreed to pay £38m to Chinese firm Proview to settle an arguement involving rights to the "iPad" name.

Proview claimed that it owned the rights to the iPad name in the Chinsese market after registering it in 2000.

However Apple didn't take no for an answer and said that they had aquired the worldwide rights to its name in 2009.

A court in Guangdong asked the two firms to try and reach a settlement. "The iPad dispute resolution is ended," the Guangdong High People's Court said in a statement.

 "Apple Inc. has transferred $60m to the account of the Guangdong High Court as requested in the mediation letter."

Apple had bought the global rights to the "iPad" from Proview's Taiwanese affiliate for $55,000 (£35,000).

This debate between the two firms resulted in Apple's iPads being taken off the shelves in parts of China.

Looks like Apple are getting to big for their boots, many problems are arising for them.

By Andrew Barringer & Danny Milnes