4 ms·

I assume there's no way to "prove" the provenance of the flex cables. Maybe some type of test? But CBP isn't going to spend millions outfitting their agents wit

I assume there's no way to "prove" the provenance of the flex cables. Maybe some type of test? But CBP isn't going to spend millions outfitting their agents with the training and equipment provided to do that. While I support Apple's right to do this, and can even accept/agree with the consumer protection rationale, the truth is Apple is attempting to fight a massive uphill battle hill with counterfeits. They're obviously losing. It's easy to find knock-off Apple products. We have some experience as a country allowing over-powered government agencies to seize property based on suspicion and without proof. It accomplishes very little overall, wastes an enormous amount of resources, and harms innocent people as readily as it harms the guilty. The "risk" of getting your property seized is obviously low enough that counterfeiters can just factor that in as a cost, just as cartels do. You know you're going to lose X number of shipments. So we're not accomplishing enough to make a real dent in the problem, and in trying to do anything at all, you're harming innocent people. Not a great look.

CivBase 3y ago
So if I assemble a computer for someone, do I have to scratch the logos off everything? Is it reasonable to call the machine "counterfiet" because the CPU says "Intel" on the heat spreader? Or because one of the memory chips says "Samsung"? Most other manufacturers produce electronics with components from a wide variety of sources, bearing many brand names. What makes Apple components special?
- etchalon 3y ago
  Apple components aren't found in other products, only their own products. So if a product contains something with Apple logo, and it's not an actual Apple product, the chance it's counterfeit is significantly higher, though obviously not absolute in the rare case of component re-use - which is 100% legal. It would be impossible to tell if a computer was counterfeit just because it included something with a Samsung logo. But it would be fairly easy, for instance, to tell a counterfeit Samsung phone if it featured a MediaTek processor. Is it possible someone legally bought 1000 legitimate Samsung phones and swapped out the processor? Sure. And it would be legal. But is it the most likely case? No. "Horses not zebras".
  - withinboredom 3y ago
    That sounds wrong. We (and the border) have no idea who Apple is licensing their technology to. Sure it is easy to say “probably nobody” because they are incredibly isolationist but that won’t always be the case, in fact, it may currently not be the case.
    - etchalon 3y ago
      When it stops being the case, it’d be one of the biggest tech stories of our lifetime.
  - Dah00n 3y ago
    >the chance it's counterfeit is significantly higher So, "guilty until proven innocent" is the way they look at anything made by Apple and "innocent until proven guilty" otherwise? Seems… fishy at a minimum. Corrupt more likely.
    - etchalon 3y ago
      It’s literally just logic and is purely speculation on my part.

CivBase 3y ago

So if I assemble a computer for someone, do I have to scratch the logos off everything? Is it reasonable to call the machine "counterfiet" because the CPU says "Intel" on the heat spreader? Or because one of the memory chips says "Samsung"? Most other manufacturers produce electronics with components from a wide variety of sources, bearing many brand names. What makes Apple components special?

etchalon 3y ago
Apple components aren't found in other products, only their own products. So if a product contains something with Apple logo, and it's not an actual Apple product, the chance it's counterfeit is significantly higher, though obviously not absolute in the rare case of component re-use - which is 100% legal. It would be impossible to tell if a computer was counterfeit just because it included something with a Samsung logo. But it would be fairly easy, for instance, to tell a counterfeit Samsung phone if it featured a MediaTek processor. Is it possible someone legally bought 1000 legitimate Samsung phones and swapped out the processor? Sure. And it would be legal. But is it the most likely case? No. "Horses not zebras".
- withinboredom 3y ago
  That sounds wrong. We (and the border) have no idea who Apple is licensing their technology to. Sure it is easy to say “probably nobody” because they are incredibly isolationist but that won’t always be the case, in fact, it may currently not be the case.
  - etchalon 3y ago
    When it stops being the case, it’d be one of the biggest tech stories of our lifetime.
- Dah00n 3y ago
  >the chance it's counterfeit is significantly higher So, "guilty until proven innocent" is the way they look at anything made by Apple and "innocent until proven guilty" otherwise? Seems… fishy at a minimum. Corrupt more likely.
  - etchalon 3y ago
    It’s literally just logic and is purely speculation on my part.