14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has always come up with catchy slogans and tag lines for its products and the iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus make no exception to this rule. “The only thing that's changed is everything,” Apple claims, although we all know that the differences between the iPhone 6 and the 6s aren't really overwhelming.
And it's this small difference between the old and the new models that's causing trouble for Apple in China, as local authorities are very close to fining the company for false advertising.
A report by Sina News reveals that a Chinese lawyer has decided to proceed with legal action against Apple and China Mobile, the operator that actually sells the iPhone in the country and which placed the aforementioned slogan on its website, because it violates a new advertising law.
No more superlative terms
Seeking compensation of about $3,000 (2850 EUR), the lawyer cites the new law that prohibits companies from using misleading or false words, stating that a fine of around 200,000 yuan ($31,000 / 29,500 EUR) is possible for those who violate these regulations. The law came into effect on September 1 this year and forbids companies from using superlative terms such as “the best” and “the most,” according to ZDNet.
China Mobile has already removed the iPhone slogan from its page, but Apple China still uses it, which increases the chances of getting a fine.
In other words, stating that “everything is changed” must really mean it, so if there's one single thing that's the same on the new iPhone when comparing it to the previous model, the chances are that Apple can be fined.
The Cupertino-based company hasn't yet issued a statement on this, but given the fact that the iPhone 6s slogan is still there on its Chinese website, the company doesn't seem to be really afraid of violating this new law.