The impending Reality Pro VR/AR headset from Apple may be the subject of a trademark dispute in China. It was discovered that an organization called Immersive Health Solutions LLC, which was affiliated with Apple, had registered the names “Reality Pro,” “Reality One,” and “Reality Processor” as trademarks. The moniker “Apple Vision Pro” was ultimately chosen by Apple, and the company’s branding strategy was modified to emphasize mixed reality and XR.
Because Huawei already owns the “Vision Pro” brand in China and uses it for their smart TVs and smart eyewear, there is a problem. Apple would have to negotiate with Huawei and possibly pay for the trademark if they wanted to sell their headset in China under the name “Vision Pro.” Apple previously spent $60 million to get the Chinese rights to the term “iPad”.
An alternative option would be for Apple to call the headset something else, like Apple Reality Pro. However, this would necessitate a shift in how they promote spatial computing.
The outcome of this trademark dispute will be significantly influenced by the success of the debut of the VR/AR headset. Early in 2024, the Apple Vision Pro is scheduled to go on sale in the United States, with plans to expand to other nations after that.
It is yet unclear how Apple would handle this potential trademark dispute and how it may affect the headset’s overall performance in the Chinese market.