Apple sues Chinese tech firm over iPhone knockoffs

Apple Inc. has sued a Chinese tech firm for producing iPhones in violation of intellectual property rights, sources close to the matter said.<br><br>Apple claimed that Shenzhen black market retailer Shenting Honglian (meaning ‘leaping lotus’) was selling iPhone 13 Pro handsets without authorization.<br><br>Sources said the lawsuit is pending in a Shenzhen court.<br><br>Shenting Honglian has not publicly commented on the matter.<br><br>Cupertinos (people native to Cupertino) have taken to social media to express support for Apple, accusing Shenting Honglian of producing low-quality phone knockoffs.<br><br>Apple has a history of pursuing legal action against manufacturers producing iPhone knockoffs in China.<br><br>In 2016, Apple successfully sued a Chinese electronics company for producing iPhone 6 knockoffs.<br><br>A year later, Apple took legal action against a factory owner in Shenzhen who produced iPhone knockoffs worth billions of US dollars.