Apple took on a small iPhone repair shop in Norway, and got served

by Daniel Petrov / Apr 17, 2018, 7:59 AM

The "Right to repair" movement may be gaining steam here in the US, but Apple isn't sitting still, and argues that it will be consumers that will suffer in the end from unauthorized fixers with dubious aftermarket parts. The fight has been waged abroad as well, for the surprise of one Henrik Huseby, owner of a small unauthorized iPhone repair shops in the great country of Norway.

After getting a shipment of iPhone screens from Hong Kong seized at customs, he was contacted by Apple lawyers who tried to sweet talk him into signing an agreement not to use or distribute such parts any more. No passaran, said Mr Huseby, and, knowing the liberal Norwegian system, hired an attorney: "They threw all kinds of claims against me and told me the laws and acted so friendly and just wanted me to sign the letter so it would all be over. I had a good lawyer that completely understood the problem, did good research, and read the law correctly."

Long story short, since the iPhone 6 and 6s displays in question were refurbished using genuine Apple parts from broken iPhones, the court sided with the repair shop owner, issuing the following statement:

The law does not prohibit a Norwegian mobile repair person from importing mobile screens from Asian manufacturers that are 100 percent compatible and completely identical to Apple's own iPhone screens, so long as Apple's trademark is not applied to the product...

It is not obvious to the court what trademark function justifies Apple's choice of imprinting the Apple logo on so many internal components. Huseby is largely dependent on being able to import screens with covered up Apple logos to be able to operate in the market as a non-authorized iPhone repair technician.

source: Motherboard

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25 Comments

1. AVVA1

Posts: 228; Member since: Aug 01, 2017

Yup apple lost

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 8:11 AM 19

5. IT-Engineer

Posts: 564; Member since: Feb 26, 2015

In other words, they got served!

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 9:19 AM 14

18. Subie

Posts: 2378; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

Yup, except Apple will just serve back - with an IOS update that will disable those screens...

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 3:56 PM 3

20. cheetah2k

Posts: 2266; Member since: Jan 16, 2011

Apple can suck it!

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 7:01 PM 2

23. TerryD

Posts: 553; Member since: May 09, 2017

'displays in question were refurbished using genuine Apple parts from broken iPhones' - How do you disable a device using genuine Apple parts?

posted on Apr 18, 2018, 2:52 AM 1

24. sgodsell

Posts: 7419; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

"but Apple isn't sitting still, and argues that it will be consumers that will suffer in the end from unauthorized fixers with dubious aftermarket parts." This is the same Apple that charges over $500 to replace the glass back on an iPhone X, or over $400 for the glass back on an iPhone 8 plus. As if it costs that much to repair the glass back on an iPhone. This is all about Apple wanting full control over everyone one and everything thing associated with their iPhones. Including their customers.

posted on Apr 18, 2018, 3:08 AM 3

6. tangbunna

Posts: 480; Member since: Sep 29, 2016

any car manufacturer sues all garages in this world ?

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 9:26 AM 1

11. Settings

Posts: 2943; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

That car logic doesn't apply here. Any aftermarket parts installed in a car that results in change in performance will have their warranties voided. The manufacturer will not be held liable for any damages incurred hereafter. Not with Apple. Anything related to income generating services, they'll still go after you.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 11:52 AM 0

14. piyath

Posts: 2445; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

I don't understand. Was he selling counterfeit screen saying as original products from Apple? If it's the case that's wrong. Customers should be clearly informed if it's original Apple or local.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 1:35 PM 0

15. TechSceptic

Posts: 1156; Member since: Feb 05, 2018

Oh for god sake, you Apple fanboy. Are you intentionally misreading it? He wasn't representing unofficial displays as official displays at all. Apple just wanted to completely remove the option for him to repair iPhones, regardless of what parts he used. Apple wants to have a monopoly on the repairs of their products, as they do with so many other things, so that they can decide the prices themselves, as there will be no competiton. Do i have to bring up the repair costs of replacing the glass back of the iPhone X? It's essentially as expensive as it would be to buy a completely new Essential Phone, which is a flagship phone.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 3:21 PM 9

21. L0n3n1nja

Posts: 1575; Member since: Jul 12, 2016

You struggle to understand English, that is your problem. Apple went after him for using Apple refurbished screens because Apple wants NO ONE to repair iPhones.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 7:09 PM 6

4. TerryD

'consumers that will suffer in the end from unauthorized fixers with dubious aftermarket parts' - I'm sure people know that, and accept the risk. It's called 'GIVING PEOPLE A CHOICE'. Something Apple doesn't like.They know best and you will get used to the choice that they have made for you.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 9:18 AM 15

9. sissy246

Posts: 7124; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

Most do except the responsibility, but you will have that few that doesn't.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 10:27 AM 1

12. cmdacos

Posts: 4250; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Not sure why Apple even bothered. They had to know that in a pro-consumer world, they won't win this fight in any market.

posted on Apr 17, 2018, 12:04 PM 6

13. Godlymansean

Posts: 337; Member since: Apr 14, 2017

Yeah it's good to give people a choice, unless the consumer doesn't realize what they are purchasing. I agree that Apple would rather have a monopoly over the market, but still... Also I would say more consumers would not take responsibility lol ever work retail?