Apple paid Hanvon $3.65 million in the ‘i-phone’ trademark deal
When Apple was still in talks with China’s carriers to bring iPhone into China, we’ve heard reports that Apple selling iPhone in China might face legal troubles in future, because the ‘i-phone’ trademark was owned by Hanvon ( also known as Hanwang) company and has been used on some telephone sets. About a month ago, The i-phone trademark was transfered to Apple, according to the information on China Trademark Office website. At that time, both sides refused to give any detail about this trademark deal. Today, Hanvon published its prospectus in China for the plan to go public on Shenzhen Stock Exchange (the SSE). The information from this document shows Hanvon and Apple signed a trademark reconciliation and transfer agreement on July 18, 2009, in which Hanvon transfered ‘i-phone’ trademark to Apple, and Apple paid $3.65 million to Havon.