Apple Files Lawsuit Against Teenager Who Sold White iPhone 4 Conversion Kits, Settlement Reached?

[Small White Car]

Fairly certain the market for converted iPhone 4's on Ebay are quite small.

You mean a person buying a white iPhone from Apple may not know whether it's been converted or not? The guy sold an estimated 600 kits. Of the iPhones in the wild, that's not even close to 1%.

Yeah, but when there's a thread on Macrumors and 3 out of 5 posters claim to have trouble with their white iPhones and then that thread comes up high on Google... Well then those 3 users can have one hell of an impact on people's opinion.

I've seen Google searches bring up Macrumors threads VERY high when searching for info on Apple products. Just a few people can be very influential.

The proximity sensors and antennas are already bad enough. Last I recall, there were additional sensors on the Apple-manufactured white iPhone 4.

Yeah, that's exactly my point.

Apple did damage to its own reputation by selling phones with shoddy antennas in the first place.

So if you stub your toe then you can't complain when someone cuts your arm? I'm not seeing the connection here. Yes, Apple had antenna problems. So they should just welcome false complaints about white iPhones not working well? What's the connection there?

 

[PeterQVenkman]

What an idiotic comment!



What an idiotic comment!

Is there an echo in here?

 

[d0minick]

1. Foxconn has no right selling these parts, so even if you buy them from Foxconn, they are still stolen goods.

2. He didn't buy from Foxconn. He bought from a Foxconn employee. Most likely now a Foxconn ex-employee.

You are right. And I do believe Apple has a case.

But they should most likely issue a cease and desist. Sueing is a little over the top.

 

[abronbibly]

I think the big problem is people see Apple as a big corporation that makes lots of money so they think its "ok to steal from the big guys" since thats an easy justification.

Exactly!

It's a joke.. Anyone that actually knows what it takes to protect a brand knows the hoops you have to jump through to do so. Half the people commenting have probably never even been involved in a lawsuit, let alone own any intellectual property.

I love how these people think it's gonna be easy working with a kid who doesn't know what is right or wrong. Like sending a cease and desist letter will actually do something, like he didn't know what he was getting into the second he purchased the domain name!

These people need to grow up and get their heads on straight. We live in a corrupt world where people are only trying to figure out a way to get over on the next guy.

Some of you act like he stumbled upon this idea, like he is almost smart for coming up with this.. No, that is not the case. The kid is an idiot to think he can get over on one of the worlds largest brands.

I bet these are the same idiots that go around "Planking" on things because they think it's funny or cool. You all are just followers, try being a leader for a change!

 

[d0minick]

Im so humbled to be surrounded by perfect people.

If any of you have acquired ANYTHING by non-legal means (shared music/movies)...youre a "thief".

If any of you have gone over the speed limit (by ANY amount), talked on the phone while driving (in applicable states)... you're a criminal.

Yes, he did a stupid and illegal thing. But, dont wave your banner of perfection while making his actions so black and white. If his family didnt have healthcare, and he used all the profits to treat his mother's cancer, would you still be so hypocritical?

His actions (though "wrong") were not harmful to anyone and only reflect poor judgement on himself.

Give the grace we all require...heaven knows ive far from perfect.

I've NEVER EVER NOT ONCE gone under the speed limit.

 

[mack pro]

This makes Apple look really really bad. Only the strangest fanboys are ok with this , but Apple could set them on fire and they'd be ok with it.

 

[bigandtasty]

Way to go Apple! Go after the teenager and make him pay but let Gizmodo get away with their shenanigans. Nice

 

[benthewraith]

He did harm to Apple and the people who purchased the parts.

Fairly certain the people buying the products knew there was a chance of shoddy service.

 

[OptyCT]

Let's also remember that a "settlement" doesn't have to be financial. Apple may not have taken a dime from this kid and his family, since the details of the settlement were not disclosed.

 

[toddybody]

I wonder how many of the people defending this kid are people who bought those conversion kits or are friends? My guess is a high percentage.

Apple is right, the teen is wrong. The right outcome occurred.

Well shucks, ya got me Me and "Jimmy the Felon" go way back since our days as Somali Pirates. Sure, they said high-jacking freighters was a "gateway crime"...but who knew he'd up doing something this bad.


And for the record, no MR member would pay 200+ for an unapproved alteration to our beloved iP4's...it would make trips to the Apple Store a bit awkward

 

[Jazwire]

I totally disagree. How many of these phones are out there now? How poorly do the sensors perform? How much word-of-mouth spreads from these users?

ESPECIALLY now that there are real white iPhones out there so people who buy these phones may have no idea that they're conversions.

How did 'antennagate' start? By people complaining about the antenna. You can NOT deny that Apple's sales weren't affected by that. How many people are currently complainig about their proximity sensors to friends because of this guy?

He absolutely did harm to Apple's reputation.

Exactly, my phone has proximity senor problems AND antenna problems!!
Oh wait, mines Black.
I'm not completely in this kids corner but this argument is funny.

Also lets keep in perspective this kid sold approx 500 kits, do you even realize what a tiny percentage that is? Apple probably sells 500 Iphone's in 15 minutes.

 

[bretm]

Allright! Another reason to make me hesitant to admit to owning an iPhone, or iPod, or MacBook, or contemplate buying more Apple crap if this is how those profits are used. Time to fix my signature...

I'm ashamed to be affiliated with the likes of YOU, even if it is just as a fellow Apple user.

 

[chrono1081]

After seeing some comments....

After seeing some comments I'm wondering if people here actually READ the article?

I missed a big section when I skimmed it so I won't fault anyone but...


APPLE DID NOT SUE THE KID

They simply filed a suit and then withdrew it, not to mention the kid said he isn't going to stop his business practice so I'm sure if a cease and desist was sent its not going to change things.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

forfeit



Douche move? What is YOUR illegal business?

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS.



None WAS spared. Please get an education.



hacker crowd? More criminal behavior that WE have to support with the high prices for our electronics.



TOTAL Bull!



AMEN!

My Cousin Vinny? Is that you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4KR1zVqizo

 

[Small White Car]

Exactly, my phone has proximity senor problems AND antenna problems!!
Oh wait, mines Black.
I'm not completely in this kids corner but this argument is funny.

Yeah, and would you want one that's even worse?

No, really, would you? You act like you wouldn't care if you sent $200 to this kid and it made your phone worse, but I suspect you would.

 

[abronbibly]

After seeing some comments I'm wondering if people here actually READ the article?

I missed a big section when I skimmed it so I won't fault anyone but...


APPLE DID NOT SUE THE KID

They simply filed a suit and then withdrew it, not to mention the kid said he isn't going to stop his business practice so I'm sure if a cease and desist was sent its not going to change things.

It honestly doesn't matter if they've read the article or not.. They will believe what they want and make up the rest, just like they always do.

 

[mmcxiiad]

One other thing, keep in mind that sometimes when a crime is committed by a teenager the nature of the crime causes them to be tried as an adult.

This teenager committed inter nation theft and resold the items to make $130,000. This is not the act of a mere teenager.

Yet to cover the other side of the arguement, this is why the parents where also on the lawsuit, because they should nave noticed something nefarious was going on when their son is making more money then most adults.

A 10 minute phone call with any lawyer would have told them this long ago. Something that any reputable business would have done.

 

[Blorzoga]

Bravo, Apple! Way to go out of your way to crush the competition!


Sadly, if Microsoft would have done this (think Mike Rowe Soft incident) people would be rioting but Apple crushing a teenage is ok...

It's called trademark infringement. It's not a joke. The kid set up a business to profit from the billions of dollars Apple has invested in creating a brand. The parts were illegally obtained. Apple has every right to protect its trademark. The kid's parents should be ashamed.

 

[MacUser5]

Bravo, Apple! Way to go out of your way to crush the competition!


Sadly, if Microsoft would have done this (think Mike Rowe Soft incident) people would be rioting but Apple crushing a teenage is ok...

It's highly unlikely there was any serious penalty here, especially after Woz came out and defended him a few week back. Apple had to take action publicly to prevent it from happening again. It no doubt cost Apple a pretty penny though.

 

[Gasu E.]

Okay, so where are the police with criminal charges? If theft is theft that is not a civil matter, but a criminal one.

Since the alleged theft would have been in China, Apple would first have to get a theft conviction in China. Then they could bring a case for receiving stolen goods in the USA. Obviously, the US authorities have no jurisdiction to investigate an alleged theft in China.

 

[benthewraith]

Yeah, and would you want one that's even worse?

No, really, would you? You act like you wouldn't care if you sent $200 to this kid and it made your phone worse, but I suspect you would.

And again I'd suspect individuals would know getting aftermarket parts from a questionable third party could potentially impact the performance of their handheld devices. I'm sure also that to perform such a conversion would involve voiding the warranty on their devices.

Essentially, they'd know what they were getting into.

 

[bretm]

Apple is getting to big for it's britches. The fad will be passing within another 2 yrs, the bubble will burst. And apple will be remembered for what it is ... a really good marketing company.

hopefully the whole hacker crowd goes after apple for this petty crap and shuts them down like they did to sony

Their skills lie in DESIGN. Always have. Interface, hardware, etc. Good design is the key to so many things. It's what Jobs understands. From typography to color to minimalism. Good clean communicative design. They could build cars or lamps or houses. They would likely excel wherever they put their efforts.

 

[logandzwon]

Guys, come on... his was either selling stolen parts or counterfeit parts of a major company's brand new flagship product.

Anyway, Apple requested the Judge dismiss the case, meaning they probably settled. It's not like the kid would have millions of dollars to settle the case with. He cheated the system, stole from hard working people, and got caught.

 

[Small White Car]

And again I'd suspect individuals would know getting aftermarket parts from a questionable third party could potentially impact the performance of their handheld devices. I'm sure also that to perform such a conversion would involve voiding the warranty on their devices.

Essentially, they'd know what they were getting into.

I strongly suspect that many enterprising individuals would decide to buy several of these kits, convert phones, then sell them for a profit.

At first the buyer should have known what they were getting (although some wouldn't be that smart) but now all of those conversion phones could easily be re-sold without the buyer knowing what they were getting.

I absolutely believe that there are hundreds of these converted phones in the hands of people who don't know they're conversions. All of my opinions here are based directly on that belief.

 

[toddybody]

Those are misdemeanors. The acts the kid committed were felonies. It is the difference between dropping a gum wrapper on the street and murder.

He purchased stolen goods, then resold them. He did so across international lines. He damaged Apple's reputation by selling defective parts labeled with the Apple logo. He did harm to Apple and the people who purchased the parts.

Im not disagreeing that he did something wrong. But the extent of his crimes do not, in actuality, equate to serious harm. Citing his crimes as felonies means nothing outside of a legal perspective. From a moral standpoint, I would call every misdemeanor assault ever committed, worse than his actions...yet they arent categorized as severely.

If the amount of stolen goods totaled below the felony threshold, would his actions be better? No. He did what he did, but it cannot be equated to other harsh examples of felony crime(even in the realm of theft).

Stay well, appreciate the comments.