Apple iPhone 6 on the left vs Baili 100C on the right
Apparently, Apple has infringed on the design patents of a phone by an obscure Chinese company called Baili, and Beijing’s intellectual property regulator can essentially shut down all sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in the capital city, pending appeals at higher court. This rather strange ruling postulates that the exterior shape and form of the iPhone 6 look exactly like the Baili 100C, which is evidently a subject of patent protection: "The Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have minor differences from Baili's 100C. The differences are so tiny that the average customer could not notice. So, this case falls into the patent rights protection category," ruled the property office on May 10.
The move comes just as Apple is betting on China as one of the sales hotspots with the most potential for its iPhones, and is a somewhat funny (certainly not for Apple) turn of events, considering the way the US patent system works. Apple, Samsung, and other phone makers are in a constant fight to patent the most diminutive detail or even an idea, so as not to be a subject of such a ban some time in the future. The patent lawyers that work for Apple in Beijing are obviously not up to the task if they have missed the obvious similarities in the Baili 100C, and the iPhone 6 design.
We kid, but the move is just the next in a recent crusade against Apple in China, as the company was also ordered to shut down its iBooks and iTunes Movies services there, lost the rights to the iPhone trademark, and now this. The potential ban on sales of older iPhones in Beijing likely won't affect Apple's bottom line much, as they are soon going to be phased out from production anyway, to make room for the iPhone 7, but still, it may be a harbinger of further such scuffles with Chinese regulators.
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed: