Apple fears suspension in Beijing as iPhone 6 infringes on Chinese phone

BEIJING (Web Desk) - Beijing’s intellectual property regulator has ordered Apple to stop selling iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in the city. The regulator has ruled that the design of the iPhone 6 and its bigger sibling are too similar to a Chinese phone.

"The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus infringe on Shenzhen Baili’s patent rights because of similarities to its 100C phone", the Beijing Intellectual Property Office stated in its decision.

Responding to the absurd ruling,  Apple issued a statement on Friday.

"iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as well as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE models are all available for sale today in China. We appealed an administrative order from a regional patent tribunal in Beijing last month and as a result the order has been stayed pending review by the Beijing IP Court".

The ruling by an intellectual property tribunal is the latest legal stumbling block for Apple in its second-biggest global market following the suspension of its iTunes movie service in April.

It is pertinent to mention that  China is currently Apple's second-largest market after America.