IBM sues seller over alleged fake ThinkPad batteries
Power packs claimed to be a fire-risk too
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IBM has accused a New York-based spare computer parts company of trademark infringement in a bid to stop the firm selling what it alleges are dangerous fakes. It's demanding $1m for each claimed counterfeit use of its logos.
In a lawsuit filed with the US District Court for Northern Ohio this month, IBM claims that Shentech.com is "offering counterfeit IBM products which pose a substantial threat to the safety of the consuming public".
Big Blue bases its allegations on the experiences of an Ohio consumer who bought a battery from Shentech.com to use in a Lenovo-made ThinkPad laptop. The battery subsequently caught fire, damaging the notebook. The buyer complained to Lenovo, which in turn told IBM.
The buyer maintains the replacement power-pack was sold as a genuine ThinkPad battery, but IBM alleges in the lawsuit that its investigation of the explosion revealed that the branded battery was not one it had made. To check, it ordered 12 more batteries from Shentech.com and discovered they were all fakes, the lawsuit states.
"Each battery was analysed," the complaint alleges. "Each battery is a counterfeit product."
The lawsuit asks the court to force Shentech.com to hand over all allegedly fake IBM batteries for safe disposal, along with all the profits the reseller has made from selling them. The computer giant wants to be awarded triple damages - amounting to $1m for each IBM-onwed trademark on each item said to be a counterfeit.
COMMENTS
fakes are fakes
Hi, all laptop batteries have s/n so IBM will know if they produced it along with dates of manufacture.
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"The lawsuit asks the court to force Shentech.com to hand over all allegedly fake IBM batteries for safe disposal, along with all the profits the reseller has made from selling them."
If they need help disposing of all those profits, I'd be more than willing to help.
As always
As always everyone loves a bargain and the cheapest is the best!
You pays your money and takes your choice !
Or perhaps it was a dastardly conspiracy ploy by you know who behind the last great flaming battery recall to discredit it's more advanced rivals ?

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