Odd counterfeiting bust in China reveals 'iPhone' stoves
updated 08:30 pm EST, Fri February 24, 2012
Hotplates complete with logo, name
Authorities in the Qiaokou district in the city of Wuhan, China have raided two warehouses and seized 681 counterfeit personal gas stoves branded with the Apple logo and the name "iPhone." Authorities were tipped off to the replica devices by the silkscreened logos on the boxes as well as the obvious trademark infringement. The Wuhan area is known for widespread counterfeiting rings and often features in "oddball" news stories.
According to local news reports, the stoves also lacked safety precautions designed to prevent the pilot flame from going out, potentially causing fire hazards, gas leaks and potential health hazards. The fake stoves also came with certification labels claiming that they had been made by Apple China Limited, though it's not clear how many Chinese consumers would be have been fooled into believing that Apple was now making kitchen appliances.
Officials verified with Apple that it was not making stove products, and are conducting an investigation into who actually made the stoves (no companies were named in the news report). Photos of the units (seen below) show a blatant attempt to cash in on the popularity of the iPhone and Apple brands, even with completely different types of devices.
There have been no reports of any Samsung-branded stoves in the area.
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