CBP steals OnePlus Buds

[xlen]

https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1305300486090825731
The best thing is they are FCC approved, so this should be fun...

[ENTERPRISE]

The thing I don't get is they are clearly not Apple Air Pods as they are branded OnePlus Buds lol which is a different phone brand all together (OnePlus).

[Supercrumpet]

Wow they really seem to have botched that one.

Outstanding move.

[axipher]

Update from the Verge

Quote

In a statement to The Verge, a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson has defended the agency’s seizure of 2,000 pairs of OnePlus Buds at JFK airport on August 31st. Last night, CBP publicized the action and described the OnePlus Buds as “counterfeit Apple AirPods,” which set off a wave of controversy. It seemed like a possible gaffe by border officers who somehow didn’t realize they were blocking a genuine product, and OnePlus has also been mocked for even finding itself in this situation, thanks to the similarities between its own earbuds and AirPods.

But CBP’s statement seems to rule out this being a mistake. What remains unanswered is why the OnePlus Buds drew such scrutiny — weeks after they had already gone on sale in the US — when the market is flooded with AirPods knockoffs. Walk into Best Buy, Walmart, or go take a look on Amazon, and they’re everywhere.

“Upon examining the shipment in question, a CBP import specialist determined that the subject earbuds appeared to violate Apple’s configuration trademark. Apple has configuration trademarks on their brand of earbuds, and has recorded those trademarks with CBP,” the spokesperson said. Configuration trademarks cover the general appearance of a product, if you were wondering. “Based on that determination, CBP officers at JFK Airport have seized the shipment under 19 USC 1526 (e).”

...

More in the article at The Verge

 

[Supercrumpet]

8 minutes ago, axipher said:

Update from the Verge

 

Wait so if I'm reading this correctly, then why didn't Apple act on the OnePlus product already, and instead have pretty much waited for someone else to start this process for them? Surely they know about them. Not convinced by the CBP.

[axipher]

Yeah, I'm not thinking Apple would want to publicly go after OnePlus over their buds like this as that would cause a publicity nightmare.

 

The CBP on the other hand doesn't care as long as they get free goodies to "dispose of to their families." (Disclaimer, I have no idea where the confiscated products actually go.

[Supercrumpet]

35 minutes ago, axipher said:

Yeah, I'm not thinking Apple would want to publicly go after OnePlus over their buds like this as that would cause a publicity nightmare.

 

The CBP on the other hand doesn't care as long as they get free goodies to "dispose of to their families." (Disclaimer, I have no idea where the confiscated products actually go.

That's a fair point.

I think I've seen bulk confiscated items go on surplus-esque sites. I recall seeing a palette full of pencils and stuff like that, pretty funky purchases. Not sure what the site was exactly, though.

[Andrew]

This was hilarious. I'm not sure where they got $200 per set from. Apple Airpods are $150 for the standard ones and $250 for the Pros.