Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus look eerily similar to Chinese company Shenzen Baili’s 100C smartphone. Intellectual property regulators from Beijing have banned Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in China’s capital city. After years of Apple accusing competitors of copying their iPhone look, they find themselves in the midst of similar treatment.
Apple products’ exterior design emulates Shenzen Baili’s 100C smartphone a little too much with rounded corners and ear speaker design. According to cnet.com, the differences between the two company’s models are so tiny customers had trouble distinguishing between the two models. This violates an “exterior design patent” Shenzen Baili has enforced.
Apple responded to the ban by filing an appeal, which allowed all iPhones to remain on sale and refutes Beijing’s ban. Meanwhile, Apple waits for the Beijing IP Court to review the order.
Apple continues to sell their products in Beijing. They may not for long after they end production of the banned iPhone 6 models, according to someone familiar with Apple production.
This is not the first time Apple has faced conflict in China. During 2012, Apple held legal conflicts with another Chinese technology company over ownership of the iPad trademark. In the end, Apple paid $60 million to resolve the dispute. It is also not the first time Shenzen Baili has faced legal conflict with Apple. During 2014, the Chinese company warned Apple they would sue for patent infringement.
Popular as Apple is, they face Chinese competition due to selling prices and legal suits like the one claimed by Shenzen Baili. Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus prices sell at a steep 5,288 yuan (around $800) compared to Shenzen Baili’s 100C phone at 799 yuan (about $120). China has a very strong Chinese-bias when it comes to lawsuits, so this is Apple’s game to lose, check back for more as it developes.
