Have you ever purchased an iPhone charger from Amazon.com only to realize that it did not function correctly? That is because Apple revealed the majority of iPhone and iPad adapters and charging cables labeled as “genuine” and “official” are actually fake. So Apple recently filed a lawsuit against Amazon.com supplier Mobile Star LLC for alleged trademark infringement, according to PatentlyApple.
Apple purchased a number of chargers from Mobile Star LLC to perform safety tests and determined that the products were “poorly constructed, with inferior or missing components, flawed design, and inadequate electrical insulation.” But because of Amazon.com's trusted reputation, consumers were convinced that the fake iPhone chargers were real. And since those products were sold directly “by Amazon.com” using Apple’s product marketing images, it made the products seem even more real.
One of the fake power adapter products that Apple tested had the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) B012YEWP2K. Amazon.com recently deleted that product page, but PatentlyApple took screenshots of it along with a review from a customer beforehand. The product title for that item was: “Apple 5W USB Wall Charger Power Adapter with 1m Lightning Cable for iPhone 5/5c/5s/6/6 Plus.” The price of that product was listed at $9.35 for Amazon Prime users and the description said “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.” “After just a few hours of use on the very first day, the charger literally caught on fire!!!” said one of the product buyers. “I’m appalled that the seller and Amazon support selling a product like this. I’m extremely disappointed in my experience with this product after reading the reviews and selecting this out of the several available in the marketplace. Moreover, I bought three for my family because of the good reviews and pricing. Don’t make the same mistake that I did.”
Apple purchased over 100 iPhone devices, chargers and Lightning cables listed as genuine by other Amazon.com suppliers and determined that a majority of the products were fake and risky. These products can be dangerous because it could cause fires or cause deadly electric shocks to consumers even in normal use due to “inadequate electrical insulation.”
“Over the last nine months, Apple, as part of its ongoing brand protection efforts, has purchased well over 100 iPhone devices, Apple power products, and Lightning cables sold as genuine by sellers on Amazon.com and delivered through Amazon’s ‘Fulfillment by Amazon’ program. Apple’s internal examination and testing for these products revealed almost 90% of these products are counterfeit,” said Apple in the lawsuit filing. Mobile Star also reportedly sold some of the counterfeit Apple products through Groupon.
Apple said that its reputation can be tarnished when consumers buy products they think are real, but ends up malfunctioning. After Amazon.com was notified by Apple about the problem, the products were removed from the online marketplace. According to a statement via 9to5Mac, Amazon said that it has “zero tolerance” for the sale of counterfeit products and it pursues “wrongdoers aggressively.”
Apple is suing Mobile Star for statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each registered copyright that was infringed upon. And Apple is also asking for statutory damages of up to $2,000,000 per counterfeit mark per type of goods sold by Mobile Star. Amazon.com is not being targeted by Apple in the lawsuit.
If you are wondering whether a USB power adapter is genuine or not, then you should make sure the Apple logo is on it and that it says “Designed by Apple in California.” Here is what the adapters should look like:
What are your thoughts about Apple's aggressive stance against counterfeiters on Amazon.com? Please leave a comment!
