Homeland Security Investing Repair Shops

[Tucson Techie]

also, if the patented design was the crux of the matter, that would mean that ANY custom rear battery door cover for an iPhone 4, even the zany ones with sequins and bling, should be an infringement merely because it replaces a genuine Apple part. surely this is absurd.

 

[carrcomp]

Honestly, does anyone know anyone that can actually pass their stringent requirements to become an authorized service center?

I looked in my area and noone that is not an Apple Store has it.

http://www.apple.com/ca/support/programs/aasp/

 

[Rocco]

Honestly, does anyone know anyone that can actually pass their stringent requirements to become an authorized service center?

I looked in my area and noone that is not an Apple Store has it.

http://www.apple.com/ca/support/programs/aasp/

"Well lit and spacious area for customer reception
counter. No shelves of repair products or parts in sight.
Physically separated from the work area."

Wow, that is just... Am I reading that right? I have re-read it a few times, and each time I get a different thought out of it. No shelves of repair products or parts in sight. Does that mean no replacement parts on display, or only repaired products?

 

[SAG]

"Well lit and spacious area for customer reception
counter. No shelves of repair products or parts in sight.
Physically separated from the work area."

Wow, that is just... Am I reading that right? I have re-read it a few times, and each time I get a different thought out of it. No shelves of repair products or parts in sight. Does that mean no replacement parts on display, or only repaired products?

Just think of the apple store (if you've been in one).
Shelves are fine, products are fine. But you can't have the replacement screens, circuit boards, etc on the shelves.
The work area is "hidden".
Apple is trying to maintain their look.
Nothing wrong with that I suppose. It's their baby.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Patent law is not there to protect a manufacturer's right to repair, its to protect someone from selling a separate product that is the same as yours.

A spark plug is a spark plug, but a bumper or fender is unique and there are plenty of 3rd party auto body companies.

There is no problem here other than apple is run by douches.. from the sound of the article this could all be about apple trying to spin the exploding iphone incidents into the fault of 3rd party repair.

They are running out of fresh ideas and if you fix their disposable toy for a reasonable price nobody will by the mild upgrade they just released. We are messing with their planned obsolescence and they will throw their billions around trying to stop us.

Those bumpers don't have patents on them. That is the key. I think that the idea that the back cover of an iPhone can be a patented part is silly but they have it none the less. And even in the case of bumpers and other car body parts you are usually buying from an authorized part supplier. You can't just go start a company and start making parts for Fords without Ford approval. Try it. You will get sued. And many of the auto part suppliers are in part owned by the auto companies. So it is all still in the family so to speak. It isn't as different then you think.

 

[nlinecomputers]

In the article originally linked to, It quotes Apple as saying, "according to An Apple spokesman, only Apple authorized Repair centers Can use Apple parts With the Apple logo."

Who ever heard of a vendor getting busted for selling counterfeit shoes or handbags when those shoes or handbags did not have a fake Nike swoosh or Gucci logo? As I mentioned before, the trademarked Apple logo seems to be the major justification behind their claim to consumer deception and copyright infringement. Not the fact that the patented design was copied by a third party manufacturer.

Lots of times. Google it. Their have been several high profile busts at points of entry into the United States of Counterfeit items. Some times they even end up in major retail chains and have to be pulled off the shelves.

 

[tarik]

the difference between buying a bumper for a ford and buying a replacement back for an iphone is the fact that I can actually go into a ford dealership and buy the fricken part! Cant I heck buy a replacement back from apple.

 

[preemo]

Lots of times. Google it. Their have been several high profile busts at points of entry into the United States of Counterfeit items. Some times they even end up in major retail chains and have to be pulled off the shelves.

This is correct. If you Google Apple patents, you'll notice that Apple patents & trademarks EVERYTHING they make. For example, they have a patent on the screen protector for an iPhone 4s. That means if Belkin or another manufacturer of screen protectors wants to make them for the 4s, they have to have a licensing agreement (and shell out some $$$) to make them legally.

Needless to say, plenty of illegal things happen in the US, and other countries. I just brought up the issue because it was a pretty serious show of force from the US DoHS, and even more serious that there are entire businesses that depend on these repairs and products to exist.

After speaking with several attorneys, it seems like the possession of these items IS, in fact, ILLEGAL. Thus performing the repairs is impossible.

Apple does not have a Reseller or Authorized Service Center program for the US, nor does it certify anyone to sell Apple parts. Thus, no such thing as "Apple Aftermarket Parts" - that seems to be the current loophole, although really it means nothing if they come to raid you. Counterfeit is Counterfeit, and that's the law.

(that being said, it's pretty ****** that we have this going on, while having a ridiculous amount of REAL issues to deal with in the US, especially related to Homeland Security)

 

[Markverhyden]

This is correct. If you Google Apple patents, you'll notice that Apple patents & trademarks EVERYTHING they make. For example, they have a patent on the screen protector for an iPhone 4s. That means if Belkin or another manufacturer of screen protectors wants to make them for the 4s, they have to have a licensing agreement (and shell out some $$$) to make them legally.

Needless to say, plenty of illegal things happen in the US, and other countries. I just brought up the issue because it was a pretty serious show of force from the US DoHS, and even more serious that there are entire businesses that depend on these repairs and products to exist.

After speaking with several attorneys, it seems like the possession of these items IS, in fact, ILLEGAL. Thus performing the repairs is impossible.

Apple does not have a Reseller or Authorized Service Center program for the US, nor does it certify anyone to sell Apple parts. Thus, no such thing as "Apple Aftermarket Parts" - that seems to be the current loophole, although really it means nothing if they come to raid you. Counterfeit is Counterfeit, and that's the law.

(that being said, it's pretty ****** that we have this going on, while having a ridiculous amount of REAL issues to deal with in the US, especially related to Homeland Security)

Apple does have a ASP program as well as Reseller. But, from what I have heard, they have basically shutdown approvals for new ones starting a couple of years ago. On top of that there is NO in store repairs for iOS devices. Those are all depot repairs. Warranty fulfillment means they just give you a new device once they have determined it is defective. So there is not market for iOS parts (officially).

 

[ZPR]

Would it even make sense to get used iPhones just for parts?

Say you can get a iPhone where the battery is shot, but you can still use the display and back cover. Wouldn't that allow you to repair another iPhone, or would Apple find a way to stop that?

 

[Markverhyden]

Would it even make sense to get used iPhones just for parts?

Say you can get a iPhone where the battery is shot, but you can still use the display and back cover. Wouldn't that allow you to repair another iPhone, or would Apple find a way to stop that?

Yes, you can use parts from old equipment to do repairs. There is nothing that Apple can do about that. Hardly economical. But that is about it. Back in the late 80's early 90's Apple went after companies that had pulled Apple parts to build new computers but that is different.