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Apple sues makers of accessories for selling counterfeits

There's a 90 percent chance the Apple power products you bought on Amazon are fakes.

Andrew Morse Former executive editor
Andrew Morse is a veteran reporter and editor. Before joining CNET, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Bloomberg, among other publications.
Andrew Morse

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Apple says counterfeit power products constitute a threat to consumer safety.

Jack Taylor, Getty Images

That shiny new Lightning cable you bought through Amazon for you iPhone ? Good chance it's a fake, according to Apple .

In a lawsuit filed earlier this week, the iPhone maker said Mobile Star LLC and 50 unnamed defendants had infringed on its trademarks and copyrights by selling counterfeit adapters, cables and other products through the online retail giant and Groupon, a group-buying service.

Almost nine out of 10 Apple-branded products the iPhone maker bought on Amazon were fakes, according to the complaint. The Cupertino, California-based company seeks up to $150,000 per copyright violation and $2 million per trademark infringement.

"Apple makes great efforts to combat the distribution and sale of counterfeit Apple products bearing its trademarks," the suit reads. "Despite Apple's efforts, fake Apple products continue to flood Amazon.com."

Apple said the products constitute a threat to consumer safety because they have the potential "to overheat, catch fire, and 
deliver a deadly electric shock."

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mobile Star didn't respond to an email seeking comment. The company's website doesn't list Apple as a "supported partner," but it does feature the logo of headphone maker Beats.

Apple purchased Beats for $3 billion in 2014.

Amazon said it has "zero tolerance for the sale of counterfeits on our site. We work closely with manufacturers and brands, and pursue wrongdoers aggressively."

First published October 19, 12:38 p.m. PT.
Update, October 21 at 10:48 a.m.: Adds comment from Amazon.