Police Find Apple Branded Stoves In China

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Police Find Apple Branded Stoves In China

Posted by samzenpus on Monday February 27, 2012 @04:50AM from the seems-legit-to-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Just when you thought the Apple knockoff trade in China couldn't get any more ridiculous, Chinese Police recently seized 681 "Apple iPhone" branded gas stoves in the city of Wuhan. Yep, that's right, some folks are peddling gas grills and are trying to made the product more appealing by stamping an Apple logo alongside the 'iPhone' moniker on the front."

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Obviously by SJHillman · 2012-02-27 04:52 · Score: 5, Funny

Cooking dinner? There's an app for that.
1. Re:Obviously by Jeng · 2012-02-27 04:59 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Download my recipes for your iStove, only 99c per recipe.
  
  --
  Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
2. Re:Obviously by MisterSquid · 2012-02-27 05:00 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Actually these iStoves run on the same chips as the iPhone, the difference being they have Flash installed. iStove loads a page, Flash pegs the CPU, and iStove gets hot enough to fry an egg.
  
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  blog
3. Re:Obviously by Eponymous+Hero · 2012-02-27 05:13 · Score: 2
  
  and a patent.
  
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  insensitive clod overlords obligatory xkcd car analogy russian reversals whoosh pedant fanbois ftfy in 3...2...1..PROFIT
4. Re:Obviously by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 05:30 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Cooking dinner? There's an app for that.
  Their CEO is Tim Cook.
5. Re:Obviously by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-02-27 06:03 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Hey, look! We just got a sneak peek at Samsung's new line of stoves!
  
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  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
6. Re:Obviously by forkfail · 2012-02-27 08:02 · Score: 2
  
  Actually - those are prototype Galaxy IV's - which incorporate all of Apple's suggestions as to how not to violate their (trivial/obvious) patents and copyrighted look and feel.
  
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  Check your premises.
7. Re:Obviously by osu-neko · 2012-02-27 09:29 · Score: 2
  
  Download my recipes for your iStove, only 99c per recipe.
  I so would. If someone made an appliance that could cook dinners for me from downloaded recipes, I'd pay through the nose for it and be on the internets browsing recipes every day...
  
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  "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
I'll take three of them! by Kenja · 2012-02-27 04:53 · Score: 3, Funny

and an Apple Care plan to cover them when (I mean if) they break. I shall be king of the hipsters with an Apple iStove! Now if only I had some iGas to power it....

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"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
1. Re:I'll take three of them! by OzPeter · 2012-02-27 05:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Now if only I had some iGas to power it....
  For that you will want to invest in a bean heavy diet.
  
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  I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Obviously by philip.paradis · 2012-02-27 04:54 · Score: 5, Funny

Apple products are really hot in China.

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Write failed: Broken pipe
Accessories? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2012-02-27 04:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

I would have thought that the iPhone accessories market could easily accommodate this. But a revision of RFC 2324 for a broader set of appliances would be in order for that to happen.

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Ezekiel 23:20
Just goes to show by Rik+Sweeney · 2012-02-27 04:56 · Score: 4, Insightful

That these days you can just stick an Apple logo on something and the drones will buy it.
Did anyone see the alleged iPhone 5 prototype images last week? Someone on Facebook posted them and people were going apeshit, saying how great it looked and how much they wanted one. It was completely impracticable to use, but that didn't matter because it was the new iPhone.

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Summation 2
1. Re:Just goes to show by Richard_at_work · 2012-02-27 05:22 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Back in 2006 there were very very strong rumours that Apple was going to release a full screen video iPod and PDA - the rumour sites even had (fake) videos of the AV iPod playing video content, with someone using the on screen inputs to forward and rewind. Of course it was slated here on slashdot because "no one wants fingerprints on their screen!" etc.
  No such product emerged that year, but the iPhone and iPod Touch turned up the following year, in almost the exact same rumoured format as the previous year. And now, most smart devices are the same...
  My point? Some people will always see the negatives in something, regardless of how successful it ends up being.
Compatibility by jmv · 2012-02-27 04:56 · Score: 5, Insightful

"We're sorry, the food you are trying to cook is not compatible with this stove. Please obtain compatible food from your local Apple supermarket."

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Opus: the Swiss army knife of audio codec
Not a knockoff. by wbr1 · 2012-02-27 04:57 · Score: 5, Funny

Look closely at the picture. That is a patented Apple device! How can you tell? The corners are rounded.

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Silence is a state of mime.
1. Re:Not a knockoff. by wbr1 · 2012-02-27 05:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You keep on with that stupid meme and I'm gonna round your corners, chucko.
  My corners are already too rounded. I need to hit the gym.
  
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  Silence is a state of mime.
You laugh, but... by ciaohound · 2012-02-27 04:59 · Score: 4, Funny

Consider the poor SOB's who bought the genuine Windows ovens instead.

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Oh, yeah, it's not easy to pad these out to 120 characters.
1. Re:You laugh, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 06:24 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I did, and there were three problems with it.
  1. Turning on too many burners would make the entire stove stop functioning. I'd have to unplug it, and plug it back in to turn it off safely.
  2. Usage was sometimes difficult: "The oven temperature has been changed. You must reboot for the changes to take effect."
  3. And then this error: Not ready heating oven A. Abort, Retry, or Fail?
  I took it back. Some folks are saying Windows Oven 3 is an improvement, but I'd rather stick with a wood stove.
Is it legal? by maroberts · 2012-02-27 04:59 · Score: 2

Whilst Apple and iPhone are no doubt trademarks in the computing and phone business, if they have not registered their intention to enter the gas stove market then surely it is legitimate as trademarks are limited to the product area you're involved in.

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Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
1. Re:Is it legal? by UnknowingFool · 2012-02-27 05:18 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The main problem is that while you can use a trademarked name in a different industry, these gas stoves are clearly being passed off as Apple products when they are not. They are using the Apple logos in combination with a recognizable product, the iPhone. Most legitimate companies let you know their affiliations and non-affiliations like during the Olympics, visiting www.olympic.com takes you to Olympic Paints which says something like "We are not associated with the Olympic games.". Most companies have to protect their brand. These products are a different arena of intellectual property violations. They are not counterfeit but unlicensed merchandise. For example Coca-Cola does not make winter ear-muffs but an ear-muff company can't stick the Coca-Cola logos on the products without a licensing agreement with Coca-Cola without being sued.
  
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  Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
2. Re:Is it legal? by CanHasDIY · 2012-02-27 05:20 · Score: 2
  
  Trademark is trademark, Broseph.
  
  Just because Disney isn't (currently) in the arsenic business doesn't mean you can stick a picture of Mickey Mouse on your own brand of rat poison... as awesome as that may be.
  
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  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
3. Re:Is it legal? by Kalriath · 2012-02-27 09:26 · Score: 2
  
  Mickey Mouse is copyrighted, not trademarked. And yes, you can use another company's trademark in a field they aren't in. In my country, we have McDonald's Family Restaurants (hah!) but we also have McDonald's Sewage. McDonald's Sewage uses the same arches logo as the fast food chain.
  
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  For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
Why is this illegal? by nbauman · 2012-02-27 05:00 · Score: 2

Since when does Apple have a trademark on the use of "iPhone" for a gas grill?
I was not expecting that... by tnk1 · 2012-02-27 05:07 · Score: 4, Interesting

The only thing surprising to me about this is that the Chinese police actually cares about it.
1. Re:I was not expecting that... by batquux · 2012-02-27 05:34 · Score: 2
  
  Technically, they're Apple police, branded to look like they work for China.
2. Re:I was not expecting that... by gutnor · 2012-02-27 05:41 · Score: 2
  
  China need to keep a balance between the healthy (for China) stealing of foreign IP with protection, otherwise countries will looking at plan B. In this case, Apple is also the largest semiconductor client in the world. Apple is a very big and very prominent customer of China. If China piss them off too much and Apple find another place to manufacture its stuff that would be a catastrophic message for manufacturing in China.
  Another aspect, is that at some point China wants to create a healthy middle class of consumer to support its own economy. Brand recognition is something that will be increasingly important for China: at some point they will want Chinese people to buy high margin products.
I totally want one by gatkinso · 2012-02-27 05:10 · Score: 2

And I can't even read the article!

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I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
Re:Does it work. by ackthpt · 2012-02-27 05:12 · Score: 5, Insightful

Did it really work to increase sales of a gas stove? Would sticking an apple logo on something just automatically increase sales in China?
Consider this is only new in China, back decades ago you could expect the same in Japan - anything with English or an American Brand Name associated with it was considered good marketing in Japan. Consider how utterly ridiculous the marketing is in America before laughing at the Chinese. Trucks and Cars named after towns, cities and areas. Honestly, what exactly is 'Silverado' or 'Sonoma' about a vehicle? It certainly wasn't made there. Jeep Rubicon? Excuse me, but that's an Italian river and more familiar with the phrase 'Crossing the Rubicon' akin to making a move from which there is no return, as Julius Caesar took his legion across the river (I'm sure they didn't have Jeeps then). How utterly preposterous, isn't it? I think to succeed in marketing one must have no idea what they heck they are talking about, but absolute belief it's the right thing to name something.

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A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:Does it work. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 05:15 · Score: 4, Informative

I agree that names are ridiculous, however, WRT the Rubicon, I believe it's named after the famous four-wheeling trail (which itself is named after the river). That actually makes a little bit of sense.
How can anyone be so dumb? by ddd0004 · 2012-02-27 05:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Morons!
--Sent from my Maytag phone
Re:Does it work. by SomePoorSchmuck · 2012-02-27 05:20 · Score: 3, Funny

Such semantically-vacuous automobile naming reached its ironic barftastic peak back when Toyota decided to name their largest and most gas-guzzling SUV line the SEQUOIA. [facepalm]

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Hollywood, Television, has become the dream machine. We need to take that back; each of us is a Dream Machine
On the plus side... by Arancaytar · 2012-02-27 05:27 · Score: 5, Funny

These things are supposed to overheat and catch fire.
Re:Apple's next announcement... by the_Bionic_lemming · 2012-02-27 05:27 · Score: 5, Funny

Real men grill with charcoal.
Which is why this product appeals to the iPhone crowd. //ducks

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_ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
1 dog and done. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 05:28 · Score: 3, Funny

I could only cook one Hot Dog before runing out of data for the month.
Re:Apple's next announcement... by ackthpt · 2012-02-27 05:30 · Score: 3, Insightful

Real men grill with charcoal.
Real men cook over a wood fire.

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A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:Apple's next announcement... by Adriax · 2012-02-27 05:38 · Score: 2

Real men eat their kill raw.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
Apple Records vs Apple Computer by perpenso · 2012-02-27 05:39 · Score: 2

Whilst Apple and iPhone are no doubt trademarks in the computing and phone business, if they have not registered their intention to enter the gas stove market then surely it is legitimate as trademarks are limited to the product area you're involved in.
Just as legal as two fans of Apple Records (the Beatle's music label) naming their new computer company Apple Computer?

The computer company was sued by the music label and ended up paying the music label $80K and promised not to enter the music business, and the music label agreed not to enter the computer business. Additional lawsuits occurred over time, with additional and much larger payments to Apple Records. Eventually the computer company bought the trademarks from the music label and licensed them back to the label.

I'd recommend that Apple Computer quickly enter the stove market to prevent the infringer from getting a foothold, to prevent history from repeating.
Discarded iPad prototypes by GameboyRMH · 2012-02-27 05:43 · Score: 5, Funny

These are just discarded iPad prototypes that were using the Prescott-core P4 processor. Apple should be more careful where they dump their trash...

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"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:Apple's next announcement... by Sponge+Bath · 2012-02-27 05:43 · Score: 2

Real men grill with charcoal.
Nothing cooks like clean burning propane. Taste the meat, not the heat. -- Hank Hill
Re:Does it work. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 05:51 · Score: 5, Funny

Consider how utterly ridiculous the marketing is in America before laughing at the Chinese. Trucks and Cars named after towns, cities and areas.

Websites named after puncuation.
Protected parody by ConfusedVorlon · 2012-02-27 05:54 · Score: 2

surely something as amusing as that must be protected free speech under a parody rule...

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VLC Remote for iPhone and Android
Rubicon by Adam+Appel · 2012-02-27 05:59 · Score: 2

The rubicon in the Jeep world is a very hard off road trail near lake Tahoe. It use to be all Jeeps could run the easy side of the trail. The Jeep badge was ment as homage and to imply that modle could run the hard side. Don't know about the other names.

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They come in the dark, only in the darkest.
They did it to NEC First by Kagato · 2012-02-27 06:02 · Score: 2

NEC got his with this hard. Chinese pirates actually created a phantom NEC, complete with business cards, sales offices, etc. They branded and sold many consumer goods that NEC never made. NEC didn't realize it was happening until they started getting complaints about warranty service for the knock off products.
The iPhone stove is an act of stupidity really. Even the cops would know it was fake on first site. On the other hand a Panasonic, GE, or LG products could go years before getting caught.
Re:Apple's next announcement... by thewils · 2012-02-27 06:03 · Score: 2

Real men swallow the flesh of their pray[sic] while it is still kicking and trying to escape.
That would be "Ebi Odori" which I had in Japan once.

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Once I was a four stone apology. Now I am two separate gorillas.
Re:Does it work. by Fned · 2012-02-27 06:05 · Score: 2

Jeep Rubicon? Excuse me, but that's an Italian river and more familiar with the phrase 'Crossing the Rubicon' akin to making a move from which there is no return, as Julius Caesar took his legion across the river (I'm sure they didn't have Jeeps then).
It's actually a reference to the reliability of reverse gear in the vehicle.
Re:Apple's next announcement... by Gilmoure · 2012-02-27 06:07 · Score: 2

If ah just wanted to heat up meat, I could use the oven. We're talking about the sacred act of searing flesh for the gods and bringing down blessings on mankind, as well as that wonderful chemical process of meat and mesquite smoke interaction. Hmm... smoked meat... aaargle... drool...

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I drank what? -- Socrates
Re:Does it work. by tompaulco · 2012-02-27 06:10 · Score: 2

Image. Marketing. Associating with something which is successful or desireable. That's all you need to know.
So, did it work? Did the existence of the Apple and iphone logos on their stove make them want to buy an iphone?

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If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
You're all missing the obvious! by tekrat · 2012-02-27 06:10 · Score: 2

You: "Siri, please cook dinner"
Stove: "ok... I am cooking dinner"

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If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.
oblig by YrWrstNtmr · 2012-02-27 06:14 · Score: 2

No wireless. Less taste than a charcoal grill. Lame.
Re:Apple's next announcement... by ackthpt · 2012-02-27 06:32 · Score: 2

Real men swallow the flesh of their pray[sic] while it is still kicking and trying to escape.
That would be "Ebi Odori" which I had in Japan once.
Did you have to duel a Samurai to claim the right?

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A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:Apple's next announcement... by Tyrannosaur · 2012-02-27 06:50 · Score: 2

Nah REAL men set the constants of the universe such that....
I'm so sorry.
So.... by Bearded+Frog · 2012-02-27 07:40 · Score: 2

So the next apple iphone requires a gas line in addition to a proprietary charger?