Apple would have no problem bricking a fake iPhone that ran a cracked ios. They regularly try to lock in hardware components with software and firmware. And in

Apple would have no problem bricking a fake iPhone that ran a cracked ios. They regularly try to lock in hardware components with software and firmware. And in the case of a counterfeit low level component then they should. If China wants to compete, then compete. If they are allowed to do this, legitimate companies will suffer and legitimate progress will stagnate. Just release the same chip open source with instructions for using it in this use case. Then when the legitimate company bricks the device, they look like the bad guy stifling competition.