Apple has made a bold claim in a recent lawsuit against a seller on Amazon. The suit claims that some 90-percent of iPhone charging cables sold through the online seller are counterfeit; this is despite them being labelled as being originals from Apple itself.
The suit names Mobile Star LLC as the primary defendant in the case; claiming that the company is infringing on Apple trademarks. The company is named as the main supplier for Apple accessories on Amazon, and Cupertino is saying that the fake goods are both damaging to its image and consumers.
Apple’s suit says that these counterfeit chargers have not passed through safety tests, and could have unfortunate consequences if used. These include posing “a significant risk of overheating, fire, and electrical shock.”
The fact that the fakes are being listed as genuine products on Amazon have helped sell them to consumers who are more likely to believe the world’s largest online retailer. Naturally, this proliferation of counterfeit – and dangerous – Apple accessories also indicates a much wider problem for the iPhone maker.
Apple is asking for damages amount to $2 million (about RM8.4 million) per counterfeit mark per type of good sold by the defendant. It’s difficult to guess just how much this will turn out to be, but the sum is more likely an attempt to punish the trademark infringement rather that gain any restitution for the damage done to the brand.
[Source: Patently Apple]
