Apple Vision Pro: Timely Chinese-market availability in doubt thanks to Huawei trademarking conflict

The official Apple.cn Newsroom has yet to include a dedicated link on the "spatial computing" revolution unveiled to the rest of the world during the potentially propitious WWDC23 keynote. Now, a possible explanation for this discrepancy has been uncovered: it seems the Cupertino behemoth has committed a rare slip-up in trademarking its inaugural extended-reality (XR) headset.

According to Chinese sleuths online, the term "Vision Pro" has been claimed as a trademark - by Huawei, and up to 4 years ago. The OEM has reportedly registered the IP with domestic authorities in May 2019, in an application approved in November 2021.

Therefore, Huawei, not Apple, holds that trademark and will do so until 2031 - albeit in China only. There is no indication that the former's application has anything to do with the latter (and any plans it might have to take over the tech world with its new hardware); it is more likely a reflection of plans for higher-end versions of the current Vision Glass product.

Accordingly, it will be interesting to see if signs of a Vision Pro from Huawei emerge, especially in the face of its impending Apple namesake. Furthermore, the IP conflict might have ramifications for its rumored subsequent "vanilla" variant.

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