Authorities in China seized hundreds of single burner stoves with a name that many of our readers may be familiar with: “Apple iPhone.” Some 681 of the stoves were seized earlier in February in the city of Wuhan, where they were stored in two warehouses.
Police Seizure Photos - Be careful when placing a call!
Source: NetEase
According to M.I.C. Gadget, an English-language site based in China who got the story from NetEase, the seizure may have been sparked not by the infringement on Apple’s trademarks, but rather because they were deemed unsafe. The devices don’t come with protection against flameout.
Police Seizure Photos
Source: NetEase
In addition to the Apple logo and and the name “iphone,” the devices also included a plate claiming that the stoves were certified under a company called “Apple China Limited.”
Police Seizure Photos
Source: NetEase
Apple has been struggling with counterfeit devices, fake Apple Stores, and other issues related to intellectual property in China, a country without a strong history of protecting such concepts. The company also finds itself accused of trademark infringement over the “iPad” name by a company claiming to own the rights to that name in mainland China.