New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Files $2M+ Lawsuit Against Counterfeiter, Finds 90% of 'Genuine' Accessories on Amazon Are Knockoffs

Wednesday October 19, 2016 8:54 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple has filed a lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC, accusing the firm of infringing upon its registered trademarks and copyrights by selling counterfeit 5W USB Power Adapters and Lightning to USB cables on Amazon and Groupon, according to court documents published electronically this week.

mobile-star-counterfeit
Apple said the counterfeit power products pose a significant danger to consumer safety because, among other things, they lack adequate insulation and/or have inadequate spacing between low voltage and high voltage circuits, creating risks of overheating, fire, and electrical shock.
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. Apple brings this suit to stop Mobile Star from any further distribution of counterfeit Apple products to the public.
The legal complaint says the products, shipped and sold by Amazon through its Fulfilled by Amazon program, were listed as genuine Apple products, often using the company's copyrighted marketing images. Apple said Mobile Star's counterfeit products hurt its sales and damage its reputation.

amazon-review-mobile-star
Apple determined at least a portion of Mobile Star LLC's chargers and cables were counterfeit upon purchasing them as part of its routine efforts to combat the distribution and sale of knockoff products. It then alerted Amazon, which subsequently removed Mobile Star's selling privileges.

Takedown notices are standard procedure for Apple, which found that almost 90% of so-called genuine Apple products and accessories it purchased from Amazon over the last nine months were actually counterfeit.
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.
Apple went one step further and filed a lawsuit in this case because it said Mobile Star's distribution of counterfeit Apple products "brazenly continues" and extends beyond Amazon, including Groupon and direct sales. Mobile Star has also allegedly failed to cooperate with Apple upon being contacted.
Mobile Star’s distribution of counterfeit Apple products is ongoing and extends beyond Amazon.com as shown by Apple’s purchase of 10 counterfeit Apple products directly from Groupon in December 2015. […]

In addition, an Apple investigator recently purchased counterfeit Apple EarPods headphones and Lightning cables directly from Mobile Star, showing that Mobile Star is brazenly continuing to sell counterfeit Apple products even after learning that Apple was on to it.
Apple is seeking damages of up to $150,000 for each registered copyright infringed, in addition to damages of up to $2 million per trademark infringed. Apple has demanded a jury trial in the case, titled Apple Inc. v. Mobile Star LLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Update: Amazon tells MacRumors it has "zero tolerance for the sale of counterfeits" on its website. "We work closely with manufacturers and brands, and pursue wrongdoers aggressively," it said.

Tag: lawsuit
[ 243 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
ArtOfWarfare
26 months ago
It seems like Apple should sue Amazon if Amazon is allowing these sellers to pretend that they're official Apple products.
Rating: 44 Votes
Avatar
trainwrecka
26 months ago
The knock-offs from overseas are getting out of control on Amazon. It has become increasingly harder to know if I'm buying an authentic product until it shows up at my door looking like a 5 year old created the product.
Rating: 36 Votes
Avatar
brian3uk
26 months ago
I'm glad they take this seriously. It is incredibly frustrating to find authentic Apple accessories anywhere other than Apple, and places like Best Buy. Ebay is worst, everything has orignal oem in the name and almost nothing actually is.
Rating: 33 Votes
Avatar
jiggad369
26 months ago

When's Apple going to sue themselves for their poorly made cables? I haven't had a single iOS device cable last more then a year.


Don't know what you're doing with your cables but I've had mine last for ages.
Rating: 32 Votes
Avatar
yanksfan114
26 months ago
Stick with the 3 A's for charging products. Apple, Anker, or AmazonBasics.
Rating: 26 Votes
Avatar
polee
26 months ago
90 percent are counterfeit, now that's a scary thought...
Rating: 22 Votes
Avatar
jclardy
26 months ago

Stick with the 3 A's for charging products. Apple, Anker, or AmazonBasics.

That is the problem though, this was an "Apple" branded charger, sold under the Apple listing page on Amazon, shipped by Amazon, but provided by a 3rd party seller.
Rating: 21 Votes
Avatar
shareef777
26 months ago
When's Apple going to sue themselves for their poorly made cables? I haven't had a single iOS device cable last more then a year.
Rating: 21 Votes
Avatar
amirite
26 months ago

Yeah because Amazon is going to verify every single product to check if it's official.

???

Are you hearing yourself. Amazon absolutely should, verify its website is making true claims. Yes. Not only is it the right thing to do, it's the law.
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
kc2kth
26 months ago
Good, while it shouldn't be Apple's responsibility I'm glad they are tackling this - or trying to. In general people have no idea just how dangerous these knock off chargers can be. Electrocution or major fires area real possibility due to shoddy design and construction resulting in poor or no isolation of line or mains current. Not only should Mobile Star and their likes be held accountable but so should any online or brick and mortar retailer who allows this garbage to be sold under their name. Besides Amazon I commonly see this stuff sold in checkout lines at drug stores, auto parts stores and many other places.
Rating: 16 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]