Apple sues "inferior quality" iPod, iPhone and iPad accessory makers

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
Apple has take a number of accessory makers to court, filing a complaint that says "many are of inferior quality and reliability, raising significant concerns over compatibility with and damage to Apple?s products."



The suit, detailed in a report by Bloomberg, cited an example of a user who complained that a battery charger actually drained the battery rather than replenishing its charge.



The report noted that Apple earns a royalty of around 20 to 25 percent from licensed accessories branded under the "Made for iPod" program, according to analyst Shaw Wu of Kaufman Bros. Unauthorized vendors who create iPod accessories not only deprive Apple of those revenues, but also violate the company's patents and expose Apple to liability from an implied endorsement.



The suit names Accstation, Boxware Corporation, Crazyondigital, Eforcity Corporation, Everydaysource, Itrimming, and United Integral, and could expand to include twenty additional companies.



Apple has incrementally modified the specifications required by new generations of iPods and iPhones, forcing vendors to make regular changes to their products to remain compliant. For example, the company has dropped Firewire charging and modified how devices output video through the standard Dock connector, potentially leaving some cables or docks physically compatible but non functional.



Software changes in iOS 4 have also introduced problems for users with car connection kits and certain docks, causing previously functional hardware to stop working correctly. Maintaining device compatibility is easier when manufacturers are kept in a tight relationship with Apple under its licensing program.



However, ?there is a very fine line? between Apple maintaining control over its gadgets and anticompetitive behavior, attorney Mark Kesslen told Bloomberg. ?You have to be very careful.?
«1345

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 95
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,712member
    Good for Apple. Quality is their hallmark they should go after shoddy suppliers, they are not Dell!
  • Reply 2 of 95
    daharderdaharder Posts: 1,580member
    Oh Well - I guess if they are in violation of the 'Made for iPod' guidelines they're open prey.
  • Reply 3 of 95
    stonefreestonefree Posts: 242member
    Quote:

    expose Apple to liability from an implied endorsement.



    It's really just a Mafia style shakedown- with Apple collecting exorbitant fees as its "protection" money.
  • Reply 4 of 95
    sofabuttsofabutt Posts: 99member
    I'd gladly play a little with my money to find an alternative to Apple's overpriced cables and accesories. I don't mind paying $3 for a cable that works with only two of my three battery back-ups for my iPhoe instead of an Apple approved $30 accesory. I don't mind paying $15 for a charging cable for my Macbook when Apple's version lasts 1 year and their replacement offer is $80 bucks.



    Apple is not looking out for its consumers, it's looking out for its own interests and the interests of it's stockholders.



    Monoprice dot com is kicking Apple's butt in prices and accesories. It has saved me about $100 bucks so far.
  • Reply 5 of 95
    tsadlertsadler Posts: 13member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    Good for Apple. Quality is their hallmark they should go after shoddy suppliers, they are not Dell!



    +1 I completely agree.
  • Reply 6 of 95
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Dear Apple, please stop damaging your own goddamn reputation and FIX THE FUCKING PROXIMITY SENSOR ALREADY!

    </rant>



    <cogent thought>

    Good, There is nothing worse than seeing people like my mom who doesnt know or care about apple's licensed accessory program get a crappy experiance with cheap ass accessories



    Real people dont know or care about licensed accessory makers like Belkin or Griffin, they care about Apple, and iPod/iPad/iPhone brand and if a package says compatible with iphone, and it is 50% cheaper than the apple certified accessory, then people buy it. Apple should have started doing this in the early ipod days.
  • Reply 7 of 95
    successsuccess Posts: 1,040member
    ooops



    misread the article.



    next!





    .
  • Reply 8 of 95
    anantksundaramanantksundaram Posts: 20,402member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sofabutt View Post


    Apple is not looking out for its consumers, it's looking out for its own interests and the interests of it's stockholders.



    Do you think this may have something to do with Apple's customers having complained about these products? And the fact that they have not sued all accessory makers?



    If it was anti-consumer, Apple should have gone after lots of them, not just the 'inferior' ones, no?
  • Reply 9 of 95
    prof. peabodyprof. peabody Posts: 2,860member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sofabutt View Post


    I'd gladly play a little with my money to find an alternative to Apple's overpriced cables and accesories. I don't mind paying $3 for a cable that works with only two of my three battery back-ups for my iPhoe instead of an Apple approved $30 accesory. I don't mind paying $15 for a charging cable for my Macbook when Apple's version lasts 1 year and their replacement offer is $80 bucks....



    Your completely misrepresenting everything here. Why post obvious lies and then expect people to be on your side? What's the point?



    Maybe if you were talking to your buddy at the doughnut shop who knows nothing about Apple you might get a pat on the back for this little tirade, but here? Grow up.
  • Reply 10 of 95
    prof. peabodyprof. peabody Posts: 2,860member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by a_greer View Post


    Dear Apple, please stop damaging your own goddamn reputation and FIX THE FUCKING PROXIMITY SENSOR ALREADY!...



    Geez. Calm down.

    Most people don't even *have* the iPhone 4 yet, and your getting mad because the second software update hasn't arrived???



    Wah!
  • Reply 11 of 95
    halhikerhalhiker Posts: 111member
    After the get this done they need to go after their official suppliers and kick a little butt. I have an iHome device that has been a piece of garbage almost from the day I bought it home.
  • Reply 12 of 95
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    The report noted that Apple earns a royalty of around 20 to 25 percent from licensed accessories branded under the "Made for iPod" program, according to analyst Shaw Wu of Kaufman Bros. Unauthorized vendors who create iPod accessories not only deprive Apple of those revenues, but also violate the company's patents and expose Apple to liability from an implied endorsement.



    The suit names Accstation, Boxware Corporation, Crazyondigital, Eforcity Corporation, Everydaysource, Itrimming, and United Integral, and could expand to include twenty additional companies.



    So are these companies using Made for iPod on their products when they are not licensed to do so? It doesn't say so in this article or the original at Bloomberg.

    Or are they licensed companies that simply don't make product to the standard they agreed to?



    After a bit of digging, it looks like they are using Made for iPod without a license.
  • Reply 13 of 95
    cubertcubert Posts: 728member
    "The suit names Accstation, Boxware Corporation, Crazyondigital, Eforcity Corporation, Everydaysource, Itrimming, and United Integral"



    Isn't Itrimming an escort service company?
  • Reply 14 of 95
    finetunesfinetunes Posts: 2,065member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sofabutt View Post


    I don't mind paying $15 for a charging cable for my Macbook when Apple's version lasts 1 year and their replacement offer is $80 bucks.



    Did you have Apple Care? Was it still under warranty? In the alternative you can go to Amazon

    @ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...FB%29+&x=0&y=0





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sofabutt View Post


    Apple is not looking out for its consumers, it's looking out for its own interests and the interests of it's stockholders.





    Apple is not going after all of the third party manufacturers--only the one who make inferior products--if that's all in the interest of their stock holders lucky them.
  • Reply 15 of 95
    msuberlymsuberly Posts: 233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Cubert View Post


    "The suit names Accstation, Boxware Corporation, Crazyondigital, Eforcity Corporation, Everydaysource, Itrimming, and United Integral"



    Isn't Itrimming an escort service company?



    You looking for a good referral?
  • Reply 16 of 95
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by FineTunes View Post


    Apple is not going after all of the third party manufacturers--only the one who make inferior products



    Actually, it seems as if it's third party vendors only if they using Made for iPod without Apple's permission.
  • Reply 17 of 95
    sheffsheff Posts: 1,407member
    Why now? Apple should have taken it's time with this, even if justified. With all the legitimate and illegitimate bad publicity in recent months with charges of arrogance and neglecting partners/developers apple should have waited at least a couple of months to start the process.



    This just adds fuel to the fire in the mind of most customers and possibly developers thinking of making new apps or accessories and trying to decide between iOS and Android.
  • Reply 18 of 95
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sheff View Post




    This just adds fuel to the fire in the mind of most customers and possibly developers thinking of making new apps or accessories and trying to decide between iOS and Android.



    Oh please, you have no idea what most consumers think. Chances are, most consumers will never even hear about this. And judging by the empty shelves, it's obvious which device consumers have chosen.
  • Reply 19 of 95
    chris_cachris_ca Posts: 2,543member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sheff View Post


    Why now? Apple should have taken it's time with this, even if justified.



    You mean "why now, again?" They started a few years ago.

    -> Apple files first lawsuit in defense of "Made for iPod" licensing
  • Reply 20 of 95
    wigginwiggin Posts: 2,265member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    Good for Apple. Quality is their hallmark they should go after shoddy suppliers, they are not Dell!



    These aren't suppliers. They are accessory makers. This would be like Dell going after someone who made a shoddy mouse pad. Apple really has no business going after these companies unless they are claiming "made for iPod" as some have suggested, but aren't official members of Apple's "Made for iPod" branding/marketing scheme.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by FineTunes View Post


    Apple is not going after all of the third party manufacturers--only the one who make inferior products--if that's all in the interest of their stock holders lucky them.



    I suspect it's less about inferior products and more about forcing them to join Apple's "Made for iPod" and paying the royalties. So yes, it's most certainly in the interest of stock holders.
Sign In or Register to comment.