Cupertino (CA) – It appears that Apple’s legal team is gearing up to dessicate the continuing flood of iPhone clones, especially those that are available on the Chinese market and are making their way to Europe and the U.S. through black and grey market channels.  

"Boy, have we patented it," said Steve Jobs during his January MacWorld keynote, indicating that the iPhone is covered with patents – highlighting that the company has learned for previous mistakes and lack of patents protecting its products. The aggressive strategy has worked out well in general. The copying of new features and everything that goes beyond a big touchscreen with flashy icons has been somewhat limited.

However, China saw a myriad of iPhone clones, which came up with almost exact copies - including the Apple logo - of the device within a few months after the iPhone’s launch. Apparently, even the software feature set comes close to the iPhone in some clones. Read this RedFerret article to get a closer idea how these clones look like and what they are able to do.  

Some stores selling these phones are reporting that Apple recently got much more serious about iPhone clones. Simon Rimmer, managing director of UK reseller Digital Playground said that Apple came with “all guns blazing” and “big bully boy tactics”. Apple's legal team sent a letter, threatening with legal action. According to Apple, cloned iPhones made available through Rimmer created "the same overall impression as Apple's registered design". By importing, marketing and offering cloned iPhones, the reseller has infringed on the designs owned by Apple, the company said.

Somehow, we can’t blame Apple for this move.

Rimmer and Apple found an agreement before the case would have gone to court. That agreement not only stated that the he has to stop selling iPhone clones but also send Apple the remaining stocked phones, reveal how much he imported, his supplier as well as the prices and numbers of the cloned iPhones he offered and sold.

It's because the clones are better...

Apr 22, 2008 20:23     

If they weren't better, Apple wouldn't care.
Narg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -9

Maybe..

Apr 22, 2008 22:53     

@Narg, If the case is Psystar's iMac clone then it's true. But in this case, particularly some cheap Chinese products, I can't agree with you Narg. They usually made those products with waaaay cheaper price tag with waaaay lamer build quality.
Tarra report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

The clones are not better

Apr 23, 2008 03:12     

they are worse. Look around, there are some reviews of a clone that looks exactly like the iphone, but its software is lacking, and the resolution is not as crisp, and many features don't even work on the clones. Apple is going after them because it is ruining the brand image and violating patents.
T-Cell report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Replicas disgrace the name of the original

Apr 23, 2008 04:28     

Worse quality, less features, will most probably break faster... Clones give the original a bad name and fool about 50% of it's buyers that it's the brand name product, damaging Apple's reputation. How often have you seen fake products sold on ebay? What about fake Rolex watches, La Martina shirts, or electronic devices? Whoever buys these products and is fooled by it's "genuity" will approve of it giving the original product's company a bad name. I fully agree with Apple on this one. And if you don't strike hard, you will not achieve anything.

Rayce report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

apple

Apr 23, 2008 04:52     

LOL, I've seen and tried many clones, but if you have used the real Apple iPhone, there's nothing else you want!
Cypher21 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Chinese gadget clones..

Apr 23, 2008 06:39     

These clones are really cheap but they are destroying the image of the original products... Somehow I hate these products it's because some people are now confused what's original or not, especially those who are not keen on gadgets. These Chinese clones should make there own designs and not basing their designs from an existing products which are famous.
Nest report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Chinese are ripping off america daily..

Apr 28, 2008 05:24     

Wake up America.. Basically China could not beat us war or military battle field. So they are doing it by stealing our technology as well as stealing money right out of our pockets! With all this cheap Chinese knock offs! Its pathetic.. Clones are just that clones.. People that can not design anything but only reverse design something and steal ideas and designs.. Then try to make a profit from it.. Do Not buy these products because if you do soon you wont have a job to pay for them anyways.

rafael report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

steal technology?

May 16, 2008 09:56     

the ipods are pretty low tech and out dated. The chinese clone it because it's too simple to make. All the parts are available to the clones because the original parts are made in china. They made the clones for local market because people making US$300 a month cannot afford a $150 ipod where it cost apple $50 to make. it's the american that try to sell in in small number in US ...like on ebay. The chinese govement is not stopping this because they want their people to be able to use $1 Windows vista to grow their economy at lower cost rather than pay bill gate 120 a pop. Eventually the low cost of doing business ends up with lower cost for goods american buys. So next time you buy a cheap toy from walmart or ipod from Apple, think how of how can it be so cheap for you...because they don't pay enough to those who make it...and they are the same human being that wanted the same thing you wanted.... if they all live like america...they will need wages like we have here...and your iphone will cost $1000 to make.

wow report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0