In fact, there have already been dozens of attempts to register products with Apple-style branding, though none have managed to attract the same level of attention – or the same level of payout – as Proview's. As Proview pointed out numerous times it court, the company was no mere trademark squatter, having produced a product under the iPAD brand long before Apple introduced its first iPad.

While most Chinese social media users seemed to agree that Apple emerged a loser from its battle with Proview, there was some debate as...