Today in TechApple finally takes notice of fake Apple Stores, files lawsuit
It's been a wild couple of weeks for fake Apple retail outlets. After a blogger broke news of a slew of copycat Apple Stores that had popped up in her neighborhood in China, copyright sleuths from around the globe began exposing other not-so-legitimate Apple shops, including some right here in the United States. Once such retailer is New York's "Apple Story," a store located in Queens which caught the eye of the real Apple, prompting a lawsuit to be filed.
As of now, the suit remains sealed, so the specific allegations — as well as the full list of defendants — remains a bit of a mystery, but it's possible that China's ridiculously bold Apple Store clones are also being targeted. According to Apple Insider, dozens of unnamed defendants also appear on the lawsuit, which could be a clue that more than just Apple Story will see the wrath of the California-based electronics giant.
Two of Kunming, China's five fake Apple outlets were ordered to close by city officials, but only because they failed to hold legitimate business permits, and no copyright allegations have been brought against any of the fake stores or their owners. China is notorious as a hotbed of copyright infringement, where international laws are sometimes blurry and unenforceable, though if any company can make a case for its fakers to be shut down, it's Apple.
[Image credit: BirdAbroad]
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