Apple Is On The Hunt For Counterfeit Goods In New York

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Image courtesy of International Business Times
Image courtesy of International Business Times

In a bid to rid New York City stores of shoddy counterfeit goods, Apple has reportedly cracked down on a number of businesses that are selling fake accessories — seizing items found in its raids and demanding that companies change their names if they’re too similar to that of the Cupertino company itself.

Recently discovered court documents reveal an Apple lawsuit filed against Apple Story Inc., and a related company by the name of Fun Zone., towards the end of last month. The documents were kept sealed until a judge released them to the public on Thursday.

According to a Reuters report, Apple sent representatives to Apply Story and Fun Zone stores to buy cases and accessories for the iPad, iPhone and iPod. The team visited these locations on “multiple occasions over several weeks,” and found goods sporting Apple’s logo and replica packaging that were “nearly an exact duplicate” of Apple’s products.

Apple’s complaint reads:

“Defendants are trading on and receiving the benefit of the goodwill Apple has established in the Apple trademarks through considerable labor and expense over many years.

“On July 27, Apple executed several ex parte seizure warrants — allowing the company to seize the items — that swept up goods from both stores that bore the Apple logo.”

Apple has been granted a preliminary injection against the sale of counterfeit goods at these two stores by U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto. However, Matsumoto is yet to rule on Apple’s request for Apple Story Inc. to change its name.

The report also reveals that Apple has requested a list of all customers that have purchased counterfeit goods so that it can destroy any remaining products and triple monetary damages. In total, 50 undisclosed businesses and individuals are included in the suit.

[via AppleInsider]

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