Tim Cook Confirms Apple Will Make Global Fund Donations From Sales of Red iPhone 7 in China

Wednesday March 22, 2017 10:45 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the news earlier today that Apple has ditched the PRODUCT(RED) branding for the red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in China, MacRumors reached out to CEO Tim Cook to find out if any of the proceeds on sales in the country would still be donated to charity in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

MacRumors' question: We noticed the (PRODUCT)RED branding is missing from the new red iPhone 7 on the China Apple website. Will you be donating any of the proceeds from the phone's China sales to the HIV/AIDs cause anyway?

Tim Cook's response: We donate to the Global Fund on every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus we sell in every country in the world.

Since the omission of the branding came to light, there's been some speculation that recent changes in Chinese law prevent not-for-profit organizations from being involved in commercial advertising. Whatever the truth of the matter, it appears Apple will be upholding its (PRODUCT)RED charitable donations commitment with or without said branding.

Apple's special edition red iPhone 7 models, due to be launched on Friday in more than 40 countries, are the first iPhones to join Apple's (PRODUCT)RED line-up. Apple said the new handset color was in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and the charity (RED), offering customers a way to contribute to the Global Fund and "bring the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation".

In the same press release, (RED) CEO Deborah Dugan said Apple is the world's largest corporate donor to the fund, having contributed more than $130 million to the charity, which seeks to provide "testing, counseling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from moms to their babies".

Other Apple products in the (PRODUCT)RED range that are available all year round include the full iPod line of products, Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, Beats Pill+ Portable Speaker, the iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case, and a range of accessories for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

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Tags: China, Tim Cook, (PRODUCT)RED

Top Rated Comments

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Aldaris

37 months ago

Sounds (from his response) like every iPhone sold whether (RED) or not has a donation attached.

Rating: 13 Votes

BruiserB

37 months ago

Just as I suspected in the last thread on this.....

Apparently they can't promote a charity in China, but that doesn't mean they can't still donate to it.

Rating: 11 Votes

bladerunner2000

37 months ago

Pay your taxes, Apple.

This donation initiative is just another tax exemption. Not impressed.

Rating: 10 Votes

Brookzy

37 months ago

If they are giving the donation from China sales, then why did Apple choose to not market it as "product red" in China? He could have acknowledged that part of the question.

Straight from the article:

Since the omission of the branding came to light, there's been some speculation that recent changes in Chinese law ('http://www.mps.gov.cn/n2254314/n2254409/n4904353/c5548987/content.html') prevent not-for-profit organizations from being involved in commercial advertising.

Rating: 9 Votes

applesith

37 months ago

If they are giving the donation from China sales, then why did Apple choose to not market it as "product red" in China? He could have acknowledged that part of the question.

Rating: 5 Votes

Draeconis

37 months ago

If he could confirm any sort of plan for new hardware while he's at it, that'd be swell.

Rating: 5 Votes

jasonklee

37 months ago

that's pure speculation. companies don't get 1:1 tax incentive per dollar donated. that's not how it works.

Think of the lives lost and those currently afflicted by this calamitous disease. Think of those dedicated to laboring to fight back against this malady of human ruin and damnation. Think of those who give even the smallest contribution to helping improve some complete stranger's life.

Then think of MacRumors. Apparently, some people's distaste for Tim Cook and all things Apple is such that even a charitable endeavor is sufficient to invoke their contempt, shaming and embarrassing themselves by besmirching the human core of charity. That is telling. I find it hard to see what Cook did wrong in his initiative and remarks, and all too easy to see what was quite right in his performance.

Rating: 5 Votes