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Apple Files Lawsuit Against Teenager Who Sold White iPhone 4 Conversion Kits, Settlement Reached?
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This.
This suit is solely due to the guy using components that Apple had designed and paid for. It's not about crushing the competition or preventing people from modding their devices (if that was the case Apple would have sued Colorware a long time ago).
He's only a teenager, Apple are just throwing their weight around.
He was selling stolen property across state lines. He is lucky not to be in a federal prison. I would be very surprised if Apple had not sent him a warning first.
Remember, he and his parents were committing a federal felony.
It's fascinating to me to watch the rush some of you are in to denounce Apple and hold this kid up as a hapless victim of corporate America's greed. Really shows who actually reads the stories and who doesn't. This wasn't just an enterprising kid selling homemade kits out of his garage, and Apple filed the suit and then more or less killed it which means they did the minimum amount they are legally required to do to protect their trademarks without destroying the kid and his family.
Some of you really should learn how to read before climbing on the soapbox. You just look a little foolish standing up there.
Some of you really should learn how to read before climbing on the soapbox. You just look a little foolish standing up there.
How could anyone be down on Apple for this? Regardless of age, the perp engaged in a conspiracy with international criminals to import, market, and profit from stolen merchandise. Beyond that, it was merchandise not available through legitimate means for the most anticipated and hyped electronics product of the year. His website got national media coverage and probably actually did damage Apple's image and ability to market and control their trademarks.
Personally, I think Apple shouldn't have settled - they should have crushed the kid and his family and put them out on the street.
Personally, I think Apple shouldn't have settled - they should have crushed the kid and his family and put them out on the street.
Really? The hacker crowd? That doesn't make sense but if they were to go after Apple let's just hope they get your info and expose it, use your credit card numbers and stuff. Why would you even wish something like that? This guy knew what he was doing, it was ILLEGAL! You people need to get over this "screw Apple, Im ashamed to admit I have Apple products" crap, it's old and ridiculous, go sell all your products then and use that money to send to this kid if you care that much to aid somebody who did something wrong.
If Apple hadn't ticked so many people off dinking around with the white iPhone for what, 8 months??? ...this kind of thing wouldn't happen. But yeah, sue a kid for picking up your slack, Apple. ***** lawyers...
And "kills somebody" ? Selling scrap is the same as killing someone?
And "kills somebody" ? Selling scrap is the same as killing someone?
Agree with thank got most of you say. Yes he is a kid, well, teenager - but at this age he should well know that what he did cannot be quite right. He is using stolen goods from another company to make a profit of exactly that company's name recognition. Stupid move of him and stupid of his parents that they didn't catch it - or even more stupid if not criminal if they were knowingly involved.
If this were a 5 year old kid than I would suggest Apple should hire him right away
If this were a 5 year old kid than I would suggest Apple should hire him right away
Time to stop over reacting. While the kid probably deservers a pat on the back for trying to start a business, what he was doing was clearly illegal. Possible theft and most certainly trademark infringement.
He's only a teenager, Apple are just throwing their weight around.
You guys are a hoot. The "kid" was running a chop shop for iPhones using stolen parts.
Not to mention... this kid's parents should be slapped for being stupid. Seriously, buy stolen parts and selling them on the interwebs? LOL!
^ dumbass statement of the day.
Apple had no choice. They had a teenager showing them up in this case. Apple couldn't produce the White iPhone but a kid could.
Who here thinks that selling consumers a bunch of stolen defective parts is a good thing? Anyone?
By selling detective parts with the Apple logo, not only was he committing theft, he was damaging Apple's reputation.
By selling detective parts with the Apple logo, not only was he committing theft, he was damaging Apple's reputation.
If you'd apply some logic, you would figure out and it is known that there must have been a production problem.
Apple was not going to ship something subpar, just to appease the public or critics. It was discussed in other threads at length.
Lawsuits are necessary, when somebody impacts ones business.
1) Stolen goods
2) Knowingly using stolen goods
etc.etc..
The "only a teenager" excuse is getting old. Today's teenagers who have not been taught what is right or wrong, need to be taught.
The guy was sophisticated enough to run a website, collect money and had no morals and ethics.
If his parents didn't teach him, somebody else had to.
If you had a company selling a product that is a success and somebody would steal parts from you and make money from it and potentially harm the products reputation, you would do nothing?
To all the bash Apple on this posters, are you for real?
Apple did nothing wrong here. They shut down an illegal business, using their parts and potentially damaging their reputation!
Very typical comments for USA where the victim is always the guilty party.
WHILE I believe apple has a right here, who would want someone selling something with your trademark, I do think they should leave the kid alone.
He sold conversion kits to something Apple would not release. And you had to have an iPhone to do it, so Apple sold a iPhone, and the kid made a bit of cash for his smarts on knowing the demand of a market. No harm no foul. Now that Apple sells the white version again, i am sure his demand will go down.
Let the kid win.
He sold conversion kits to something Apple would not release. And you had to have an iPhone to do it, so Apple sold a iPhone, and the kid made a bit of cash for his smarts on knowing the demand of a market. No harm no foul. Now that Apple sells the white version again, i am sure his demand will go down.
Let the kid win.
The kid didn't pick up any slack, what are you talking about? They didnt release it for a few reasons. Light leakage being a major one and some issues with taking pictures. Imagine if Apple did release it on launch with those exact parts, Antennagate PLUS the white iPhone having light leakage and camera issues, media would have went to town with all of that crap. Trust, Apple would have released the white iPhone 4 as soon as they could because the demand was high regardless.
so stupid
This is really really stupid. And I mean REALLY stupid. I don't think I'm going to buy the next iPhone, even if it is on tmobile.
In a couple years, people will catch on to what apple is doing and will realize.
This is really really stupid. And I mean REALLY stupid. I don't think I'm going to buy the next iPhone, even if it is on tmobile.
In a couple years, people will catch on to what apple is doing and will realize.
Mattie Num Nums had no choice to post this. Everyone else understood that the kid wasn't producing the parts himself. Mattie couldn't read the entire article but everyone else could.
I just have a slight problem with this statement. You can't actually believe people in good business have morals and ethics. Our beloved Apple would not exist if that were the case. My believe Microsoft would not exist if that was the case.
Morals and ethics are not, and will never be good business. Good for personal life, yes, but they are never applied in business.
so apple is suing all the other white iphone 4 kit resellers? or just this teenager?
and **** lawyers.
and **** lawyers.
I'd be interested to see what the settlement was - it may not be all bad for the kid (but probably is).
BTW @princealfie "Apple fanboyism is just as bad as Nazism."
I hope you're quoting an idiot here and that's not your actual belief, otherwise you are what we in the UK call "a pillock".
BTW @princealfie "Apple fanboyism is just as bad as Nazism."
I hope you're quoting an idiot here and that's not your actual belief, otherwise you are what we in the UK call "a pillock".
So am I wrong here? Was the White iPhone produces or just hung out like a carrot in front of us for 8 months? Bottom line is this... the white iPhone didn't exist until this kid produce the conversion for it.