Stuart Fuller, Director of Commercial Operations at NetNames, – a CSC Company – and leading online brand protection specialist, comments on counterfeit electronics as Apple launches its iPhone 7 series this week:
“Tech fans have been teased for months about Apple’s iPhone 7, so this week’s official launch will be welcomed by many. However, with experts predicting annual global sales of 148 million counterfeit or substandard mobile devices , it is only a matter of time before fake versions of the iPhone 7 begin to appear online.
“Many retailers are already capitalising on Apple’s decision to remove the iPhone’s headphone jack by offering new varieties of wireless headphones – but they don’t come cheap. With a price tag of around £120 per pair, many consumers will be scanning the Internet for more affordable options, opening the door to counterfeiters to flood online marketplaces with cheap fakes.
“Poor-quality copies of Apple’s products will not only damage the company’s brand image, but can also pose a danger to the public. Counterfeit mobile devices can contain 35-40 times the accepted limit for hazardous substances, such as lead . Given the severity of the issue, brand owners will need to proactively monitor and take action against those selling fake products online. By working with specialist brand protection companies, organisations can identify exactly where counterfeit products are being sold and take the necessary action to remove the listings, before consumers are duped.”
