By: Aseem Gaurav on July 25, 2011
Chinese authorities have moved swiftly to shut down two fake Apple stores due to lack of business licenses in Kunming city.
Recently five self-branded "Apple Stores" in Kunming posing as official Apple retail outlets without authorisation from the California-based company.
The matter was brought to the light after an American blogger visited one such fake Apple store which superficially resembled the official outlets. Moreover, even the staff were convinced they were working for the iPhone and iPad maker.
She said the shops looked very convincing at first glance because so much efforts have been put in to copy key elements of a real Apple store. For example, upstairs seating area, employees wearing blue T-shirts and chunky ID lanyards. The most recognizable sign of fakeness was spotted in form of "Apple store" written on the shop front. She said “Apple never writes 'Apple Store' on its signs - it just puts up the glowing, iconic fruit."
The only official Apple stores in China are in Shanghai and Beijing. It was also further not clear whether the products sold by these shops were real or had come from Apple distributor or a grey market source.
According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, piracy and counterfeiting of US software and other products in China cost US businesses alone an estimated $48 billion and 2.1 million jobs in 2009.
