Apple Forces Meizu To Halt Smartphone Sales

Meizu, a Chinese device manufacturer, was asked to cease production of its M8 smartphone, a dead ringer for Apple's iPhone, according to TG Daily. Jack Wong wrote in a Meizu forum post that the company would be halting sales but not ceasing production. The Chinese Intellectual Property Office has threatened to shut down Meizu's factories if it doesn't comply.

The pressure from Apple is a result of how closely the M8 resembles Cupertino's flagship smartphone. In fact, Steve Jobs has reportedly involved himself in the fray. Electronista reports that the Apple CEO responded to e-mail inquiring about why his company clamped down on Meizu. Reportedly Jobs responded saying, "Because they stole our ideas and intellectual property."

The dust-up with Meizu isn't even the first time Apple has gone after a rival smartphone manufacturer this year. The iPhone-maker in March filed concurrent patent infringement lawsuits against HTC on March 2 with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware. HTC fired back, countersuing to block sales of the iPhone, iPod and iPad in the U.S..

It's not just its smartphones that Apple defends in the courts either. The Cupertino Crew had previously been involved in a lengthy legal battle with Psystar, a Mac clone-maker. That case was initially brought in 2007 and wrapped up late last year, with an order for Psystar to pay Apple $2.7 million in damages and court costs due to copyright infringement.

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