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IBM Sues Company Selling Fake, Flammable Batteries
Bergkamp10 writes "A Computerworld article is reporting that IBM is suing Shentech for selling laptop batteries that catch on fire and sport allegedly fake IBM logos. IBM apparently followed up on a claim by a customer that an 'IBM' laptop battery bought at Shentech caught on fire and damaged his laptop. The customer reported the problem to Lenovo (who license Big Blue's trademark) who subsequently ordered 12 batteries from Shentech and found them all to be fakes. IBM is asking for US$1 million in damages for each dodgy battery sold."
IBM can sue, sure. Who's going to show up in court? The lawyers from a Chinese company? Why would they? There is no jurisdiction. I suppose IBM could sue in China. Fat lot of good that would do.
And exactly what is wrong with copyright and trademark infringement? What possible right does any government have to stick their nose into the manufacturing practices of a company in a foreign land? Is IBM somehow above the status of "government" now? I don't think so. IBM might be able to bully China into doing something but it certainly isn't going to have much effect.
China is busily producing cheaper manufactured goods by the shipload. People in the US seem to be happy to get them. So what if there are a few contaminated food items, some defective electronics and so on. Maybe a few pets die. The big deal is cheaper, cheaper, cheaper. By letting near slave labor produce stuff everone on welfare can afford a big new HDTV now. Aren't we just reaping the rewards of outsourcing all manufacturing to somewhere with no standards and shoddy practices? Yup, some stuff isn't going to be quite as good as the real trademarked, copyright blessed stuff manufactured elsewhere. Too bad.
You voted for the lowest price and Froogle isn't showing things rated by where they are made or quality. You can sort by price. If price is your only measure, you get what you pay for.