Leaked iPad 2 Case Images Pulled

The Wall Street Journal reports that several of the purported iPad 2 photos found on Alibaba.com , a small business e-commerce site, have been removed upon legal demand:

But someone -- its unclear who -- doesnt seem to appreciate all the attention: Alibaba.com was asked to remove the listings. We do not know whether these products are what they say they are, but we have received a legitimate takedown request and are removing the listings, Alibaba Group spokesman John Spelich said Wednesday.

Further inquiries to the led to little detail as to who requested the takedown, but one of the companies named Fullchance Industrial Co. claimed the case designs were "extremely accurate" and that they worked directly with Hon Hai Precision Industry. Hon Hai assembles Apple's iPhone and iPad devices, though a Hon Hai spokesperson denied any connection between Hon Hai and the listings on Alibaba.

Meanwhile, recent 9to5Mac report with design images for the iPad 2 has also been pulled:

Update, we've been told (not so nicely) to remove those mold drawings because they are the property of someone else. Weve complied.

The images of the cases have already seen wide distribution and are even physically in the hand of some bloggers: