Apple cracks down on counterfeit products sold in NYC, files lawsuit against Queens vendors

There’s greater than a number of fake Apple Stores in China, but for the instant, Cupertino’s anti-KIRF crusade seems focused squarely on Ny city. In step with Reuters, Apple has filed an indicator infringement lawsuit against two stores in Queens, alleging that they sold unauthorized cases, headphones and other accessories for the iPhone, iPad and iPod. Within the complaint, the corporate claims that the goods in question were all emblazoned with its familiar fruit logo, which include the phrase, “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” The suit also demands that one of the crucial stores, called Apple Story (seriously), change its name to bypass confusion with the true retail outlet and that both vendors disclose full lists of people that both supplied and acquired the products.

All of it began when company representatives visited the Chinatown-area stores on “multiple occasions over several weeks,” where they bought and examined the items, described in court records as “exact duplicates” in their authentic counterparts. On July 27th, Apple executed a few ex parte seizure warrants, which allowed authorities to grab any goods bearing its logo. US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto has already granted an injunction to prevent the stores from selling the alleged knockoffs, but hasn’t yet decided whether Apple Story should change its name. The complaint also seeks undisclosed monetary damages and asks that each one existing counterfeit goods be destroyed, though court documents suggest that all sides are almost reaching a deal. Neither Apple nor the defendants have commented at the accusations, but we’ll inform you once we learn more.

Meanwhile, try this KIRF “iPhone 5″ we present in Beijing — a Java-powered handset that’s slimmer than the Galaxy S II and somewhat laggy, but boasts a multitouch capacitive screen. Asking price? ¥680, or about $106.

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This post is tagged: company representatives, counterfeit goods, district judge, meantime check, monetary damages, trademark infringement lawsuit