The government office of Taiwan has warned local producers of PCs that a new patent of Apple for its MacBook Air could stop the sales of ultrabook models. In June, 2012, Apple obtained a U.S. patent for designing its MacBook Air gadgets. The representatives from the intellectual property office of the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs are worried that the patent might cause legal problems for the sale of ultrabooks taking into account the fact that the design of thin and light laptops resembles the MacBook Air.
On July 4, Xue Shuhua, a public relations specialist, said that producers of PCs should be careful. The reason for this is the fact that Apple has already targeted HTC Corporation, the leading manufacturer of smartphones in Taiwan, in a few patent-related complaints to stop importing phones of the company into the United States. The delay of the HTC newest smartphone transportation has been caused by the recent judicial proceedings, particularly by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Xue Shuhua also added that companies dealing with the production of ultrabooks should not apply the Apple patent when they manufacture their products. The office is currently planning to arrange an appointment with PC manufacturers of Taiwan but has not decided yet what companies they will invite to their meeting. The major Taiwan PC vendors selling ultrabooks in the United States are Asus and Acer. The representatives of Acer made a statement that the design of Apple differed from their ultrabook’s one, that’s why the new patent would not influence Acer. As for Asus, the company refused to comment on this matter.
