14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has recently filed a law suit against a series of accessory makers out there, claiming that they deliver products of inferior quality and reliability. Moreover, the Cupertino-based company says that those accessories rise concerns regarding their compatibility with its products, and that they might also damage Apple's products.
“Many are of inferior quality and reliability, raising significant concerns over compatibility with and damage to Apple’s products,” Apple said in the complaint, a recent article on Bloomberg notes. Apple brought to court makers of accessories like chargers, speakers and cables for the iPod, iPhone and iPad tablet computer.
The complaint was filed on July 22 in federal court in San Francisco. Six sellers based in California are named in the lawsuit, as well as one based in Washington. According to the complaint, Apple would be able to name 20 other companies. The lawsuit follows a similar complaint Apple filed back in November against a company that was said to be selling inferior quality power adapters for the MacBook laptop computer.
The complaint also notes that the unauthorized products infringe a number of 10 patents, and that they are violating its trademarks. According to some this would be just an example of how Apple is trying to maintain a tight grip on all of its products, including the approval of accessories and applications. Apple receives 20 percent to 25 percent from each accessory sold for one of its products, stated Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. LP in San Francisco, the Bloomberg article reads.
“They are trying to control all aspects of their devices,” said Mark Kesslen, chairman of the intellectual property group at Lowenstein Sandler PC, a law firm in New York, according to the news site. “They are using the various licensing agreements, partner agreements and brand management to make sure that it stays within their high standard.”