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Apple Sues Over Fake Accessories

Apple says Mobile Star LLC sold counterfeit power products through Amazon.com.

By Stephanie Mlot
October 20, 2016
iPhone 6s Line at Apple Store

Apple has sued Mobile Star LLC for trademark infringement, claiming the company sold counterfeit power products through Amazon.com.

As reported by PCMag sister site IGN, Apple purchased a number of Apple-branded accessories on Amazon—power adapters, charging/syncing cables—over a nine-month period, and found that 90 of 100 were fakes.

"[They] pose an immediate threat to consumer safety because, unlike genuine Apple products, they are not subjected to industry-standard consumer safety testing and are poorly constructed with inferior or missing components, flawed design, and inadequate electrical insulation.

"These counterfeits have the potential to overheat, catch fire, and deliver a deadly electric shock to consumers while in normal use," according to the lawsuit, which was published in part by Patently Apple.

Cupertino's four claims for relief cover trademark counterfeiting and infringement, false designation of origin, copyright infringement, and unfair competition. The company is requesting compensation up to $150,000 for each registered copyright infringementt and up to $2 million per counterfeit mark per type of goods sold, among other damages.

"The safety of Apple's customers is of paramount importance to Apple, and Apple devotes significant resources to ensuring its power products meet industry safety standards and are subjected to rigorous testing for safety and reliability," the filing said.

"Amazon has zero tolerance for the sale of counterfeits on our site," the company said in a statement. "We work closely with manufacturers and brands, and pursue wrongdoers aggressively."

Cupertino also alleged that Mobile Star supplied Groupon with "dangerous counterfeit" accessories, as well.

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Neither Apple nor Groupon immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment.

Earlier this year, Amazon promised to crack down on sales of shoddy USB-C cables. That came after Google engineer Benson Leung took it upon himself to review USB-C cables found on Amazon, many of which he considered shoddy or dangerous.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m. ET with comment from Amazon.

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About Stephanie Mlot

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Stephanie Mlot

B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)

Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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