Apple's Vision Pro headset is gaining all the praise these days in terms of its hardware and functionality. The device comes with twin 4K microLED displays powered by the M2 and R1 chips. The device will run VisionOS with its own dedicated App Store that will house all the apps which developers are working on. While the company is looking to sell a million units in its first year of availability, the company is working on a cheaper model for the masses. Now, Huawei could force Apple to change the name of its Vision Pro headset in China as it owns the "Vision Pro" trademark.
Huawei owns trademarks rights to the "Vision Pro" name in China until 2031, Apple may be forced to change the name
Huawei was granted the "Vision Pro" trademark in May 2019 (via MyDrivers). What this means is that the company has exclusive rights to use the name for its products or services in China. The rights were transferred on November 28, 2021, and the company can use the Vision Pro name until November 27, 2031. Apple and Huawei are now head to head to use the name, and judging by the scenario, Huawei could force Apple to change the Vision Pro name to something else.
Huawei has a number of products that it sells under the Vision name, which includes smart glasses and smart TVs. Huawei's trademark rights could pose a threat to Apple's business in China unless both parties reach a mutual negotiation. It is currently not clear if Apple is negotiating with Huawei. Even if it is not, the company would have to face Huawei sometime in the near future.
One thing that Apple could do is to use the Vision Pro name and pay Huawei for its rights. The operation is actively used in China as international companies pay to secure rights for an agreed-upon time period. Previously, Apple also paid Proview Technology in China to secure rights to the iPad trademark. Apple could follow the same route and negotiate with Huawei for the Vision Pro trademark.
Apple announced that it would launch the Vision Pro headset in the United States early next year. This means that the company has its fair share of time to strike a deal with Huawei for the Vision Pro trademark. It is unclear at this stage when the company will see fit to launch the headset in additional regions. It was recently stated by Mark Gurman that Apple's budget headset could be called the Vision One or simply Vision. This gives us an idea that the company could slightly alter the Vision Pro name.
