Senior Chinese officials are hinting that U.S. technology giant Apple is at risk of losing itstrademark dispute with a company in the southern city of Shenzhen that claims ownership of the iPad name in China. Officials with the nation’s commerce ministry and its trademark office told reporters Tuesday they regard Shenzhen-based Proview Technology as the rightful owner of the iconic trademark.

　　中国高级官员暗示说，美国科技业巨头苹果公司很可能会在与深圳唯冠公司的商标权争端中落败。唯冠公司称拥有在中国的iPad商标名称所有权。中国商务部有关官员和商标局星期二对记者表示，他们认为，深圳唯冠科技公司是iPad这个具有标志意义商标的合法所有者。

　　Proview’s Taiwanese subsidiary registered the trademark more than a decade ago, long before Apple developed its popular tablet computer. Apple purchased the rights from Proview in 2009, but Proview says Apple failed to register the trademark in mainland China. The U.S.-based firm has been engaged in a lengthy court battle with financially troubled Proview over the trademark. Analysts say Tuesday’s comments could place more pressure on Apple to settle the dispute.

　　唯冠的台湾子公司在十年多年前注册了这一商标，远早于苹果开发这款受欢迎的平板电脑。苹果公司在2009年从唯冠公司购买了商标权，但唯冠表示，苹果没有在中国大陆注册这一商标。设在美国的苹果公司在这一问题上与资金窘迫的唯冠公司进行了长期的法庭争斗。有分析人士说，中国官员星期二的讲话可能让苹果在解决争端上承担更多压力。