On a bustling street in China’s southern boomtown of Shenzhen, more than 30 stores carrying Apple Inc’s iconic white logos peddle pre-orders for the new iPhone, a gadget that has become a status symbol among many better-off Chinese.
Many of the stores look just like Apple’s signature outlets, right down to the sales staff kitted out in blue T-shirts bearing the company’s white logo and the sample iPads and iWatches displayed on sleek wooden tables.
First, what the fuck is an iWatch? Second, I wonder if there’s anything Apple can, or would, do about this. According to the story, the stores are selling “genuine Apple products.” Interesting problem.
There is a massive mall in Shenzhen which I’ve been to and it contains something like 4-stories high of stores with fakes for sale. Tell me how their government is “concerned” about knock-offs and IP theft without breaking out in laughter. Their government is in on it!
Perhaps, Apple needs to open more stores in China. Perhaps, there aren’t enough to satisfy demand.
Then again the PRC could give a cat’s ass about cracking down on counterfeits, they’re in the WTO now, bitches. Pandora has been unleashed and western companies only have themselves to blame for doing business with them. You gotta sell your soul if you want ‘dem profits.