A MAJOR creditor of Proview Electronics, which is challenging Apple Inc's use of the iPad trademark, has moved to have the ailing computer monitor maker liquidated, reports said.

Taiwan-based Fubon Insurance is seeking US$8.68 million in debts and has filed an application to have Proview declared bankrupt, Xinhua news agency and other Chinese mainland media said yesterday.

Proview's mainland subsidiary is based in Shenzhen, where an official at the city's intermediate court said he expected an announcement regarding the case soon. "It's a sensitive case in a sensitive period of time, so we won't comment or release information while we will have an announcement in the near future," the official surnamed Zhu said.

Proview lawyer Ma Dongxiao said the company believes its financial problems won't affect the handling of a court case in which Apple is appealing a ruling against its claim to the iPad trademark on the mainland.