If you have any plans of buying an Apple charger or a USB cable for your iPhone or Mac from Amazon, you should seriously reconsider. According to Apple, more than 90% of the cables and chargers sold under Apple’s name on Amazon are fake!
That is a heartbreaker, isn’t it?
Most people buying Apple chargers or cables online don’t usually worry about counterfeit products. Amazon carries with it a lot of credibilities, and that’s why the products sold directly on Amazon are perceived by many as relatively trustworthy.
In the last nine months, Apple has been buying chargers and cables being sold directly on Amazon. Their internal testing has revealed that almost 90% of these products were counterfeit.
A report from Patently Apple claims that Apple has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Mobile Star LLC, the company that Amazon has named as the primary supplier of the counterfeit products. Apple has accused Mobile Star of infringing upon its registered trademark and copyrights by selling counterfeit 5W USB Power Adapters and Lightning to USB cables on Amazon and Groupon.
Also, the counterfeit power products posed a significant danger to consumer safety as they lacked adequate insulation and did not have sufficient spacing between low voltage and high voltage circuits. This could create risks of overheating, fire and electrical shock.
The legal complaint says that 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 goods hurt its sales and damaged its reputation.
So, the company is now seeking an injunction against Mobile Star selling fake products, destruction of all counterfeit items and costs 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.
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.
Amazon has responded to MacRumors by stating that the company has zero tolerance towards the sale of counterfeits on their site and that they work in close collaboration with manufacturers and brands and pursue wrongdoers aggressively. After being approached by Apple, Amazon has removed the seller – Mobile Star’s – selling privileges.
Given the number of fake Apple products available, we always urge caution, particularly when the online price is significantly lower than the official price. Any price lower than the available price from authorised resellers is an immediate red flag.
Seriously, who knew that the mundane act of buying a simple charger for MacBook, or anything Apple, online could turn into a nightmare of distrust and deceit?