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Chinese Authorities Close Two Fake Apple Stores Over Permit Issues
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Badges?! We don't need no stinking badges!
The Chinese don't believe in international laws unless it affects them!
The Chinese don't believe in international laws unless it affects them!
Apple's Store layout for starters. I'm sure that's fully patented.
Next use of Apple's trademarked logo without Apple's permission.
I'm pretty sure the term "Genius Bar" is well trademarked too.
And probably more. Not really stealing IP. But you get the idea.
Trademark, Trade Dress qualify as IP, right?
At the very least, Corporate Identity has been stolen.
To be fair, they got Capone on tax evasion, right?
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opportunity
China has a real opportunity here if they don't mess it up. It would serve them well to show the international community they are genuine about protecting other people's hard work, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, and other such things by immediately closing down all of these fake Apple stores...
But, then they could do one better than other countries, by making it part of Chinese law that a company could legally purchase official products made by any other company from the same manufacturers and/or distributors that authorized stores purchase from, and sell those product in their own stores as long as they make it clear they are NOT an authorized dealer.
And, as long as trade dress, copyright, and other protected property is not violated (for example, the Apple logos, T-shirts, etc. would have to go) - if these conditions were met, then the stores could re-open as non-authorized resellers, under their own company names.
China has a real opportunity here if they don't mess it up. It would serve them well to show the international community they are genuine about protecting other people's hard work, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, and other such things by immediately closing down all of these fake Apple stores...
But, then they could do one better than other countries, by making it part of Chinese law that a company could legally purchase official products made by any other company from the same manufacturers and/or distributors that authorized stores purchase from, and sell those product in their own stores as long as they make it clear they are NOT an authorized dealer.
And, as long as trade dress, copyright, and other protected property is not violated (for example, the Apple logos, T-shirts, etc. would have to go) - if these conditions were met, then the stores could re-open as non-authorized resellers, under their own company names.
I meant to say stealing IP. You're too quick for me to make an edit.
The original claim was that the stores were "stealing IP." They are not, it's trademark infringement which, is different.
Intellectual property (IP) is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognizedand the corresponding fields of law. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property include copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets in some jurisdictions.
Well, the Apple logo, Genius Bar (term), and Genius bar logo are all trademarked. Using them without written consent is stealing Apples intellectual property. IP is just a broad term.
Stealing is the broader term that I am taking issue with. There was no theft. The trademarked logos were infringed upon, not stolen.
Thanks for clarifying. Is there any scenario of IP infringement where the word 'steal' is applicable?
(even if only informally)
If one stole trade secrets and proprietary information that was unavailable to the public, yes.
You know, he's like that rude guy over there shouting "Sing song ling long ying yong" into his iPhone.
Lots of stores use the Apple logo with a a different name. The only difference is whether or not they are official resellers and are authorized to used to the logo. If a store does not have the expressed consent to use the logo, then it's infringement.
It's not like anyone stole secret blueprints from their vault.
Taking something that doesn't belong to you or without permission is theft in most peoples book. Whether it's the official term or not, it works in describing the act we're currently discussing. Semantics.
I'm wondering If the store wasn't really an apple store was there any benefit in pricing. Also what happen when a product was broken and returned for repair.
I have a lot of exposure to China being chinese but growing up the USA. The cultural shock there is huge! As for the FoxConn not selling backdoor to these vendors due to wanting exclusivity? You have no idea what a chinese business person will do to make a quick extra buck. Corruption in the government and in business is very prevalent. Money talks in china better than in any other country.
They might have been easily stolen as well, since it is quite tempting that one 64GB 3G iPad equates to several months salary for an average factory worker. The chinese can really care less about warranties due to terrible consumer protection laws. One man had his lemon Lamborghini Gallardo smashed to pieces in public because the dealer refused to honor warranty repairs and left the owner with a useless hunk of metal.
They might have been easily stolen as well, since it is quite tempting that one 64GB 3G iPad equates to several months salary for an average factory worker. The chinese can really care less about warranties due to terrible consumer protection laws. One man had his lemon Lamborghini Gallardo smashed to pieces in public because the dealer refused to honor warranty repairs and left the owner with a useless hunk of metal.
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