Apple Stamps Out 17-Year Old Entrepreneur
May 26, 2011
A 17 year-old entrepreneur who first made news in November for offering white iPhone 4 parts via his website has now officially met Apple’s wrath. Queens, New York native, Fei Lam and his parents are being sued by the technology giant, according to news first reported by MacRumors.
Frustrated that Apple hadn't released the now-available white iPhone 4, Lam created whiteiphone4now.com to make a few bucks. Using a contact he knew at Apple supplier Foxconn, Lam began buying spare parts. He then made them available as iPhone conversion kits.
Before whiteiphone4now.com went down, Lam sold 470 of the kits worldwide for $279 each. Meaning the guy grossed over $130,000.
In Apple’s May 25 filing, the company contends:
Defendent Lam willfully and without authorization has used Apple's trademarks in connection with the sale of his "White iPhone 4 Conversion Kits," which among other things included white front and back panels with Apple's logo and "iPhone" trademarks that are used in connection with the promotion and sale of Apple's well known iPhone 4 handheld mobile digital electronic devices. Defendant at all times knew that Apple never has authorized the sale of white panels for its iPhone 4 mobile devices, and that he obtained these panels from sources that were not authorized by Apple or any of its suppliers to sell them.Apple’s remedy is to recover all of Lam’s profits from the sales, plus pay reimbursement for all expenses incurred. However, Apple also filed a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit, which seems to suggest the two sides have come to some sort of out-of-court settlement. But, because the request for dismissal came without prejudice, the company could refile the claim in the future. In November, we suggested that if Lam purchased the parts in question legally, Apple’s gripe should be with Foxconn who sold the items. However, it's clear Lam, and not Foxconn, is being targeted. What do you think? Leave your comments below.