Apple reportedly created a team in 2008 to combat counterfeits

CNN reports that Wikileaks cables showed that in 2008 Apple formed an anti-counterfeit team to combat fake iPod touches and iPhones. Initially Apple planned to go after street vendors and retailers, cooperate with police to raid production facilities, and to catch online retailers.

The technology giant eventually organized a team in March 2008 to curtail the explosion of knockoff iPods and iPhones, according to an electronic memo from the Beijing embassy dated September 2008.

In recent years fake products has been a serious problem for Apple. More recently, several Apple stores selling almost identical devices were opened in China. It is likely that great amount of counterfeit sales is connected with insufficient number of stores in this region. At present, Apple has only 4 stores, and a new store in Hong Kong will be opened this year.

Recently Apple hasn’t managed to combat counterfeits, as more and more fake products appear ahead of iPhone 5 launch.

Reportedly Chinese government doesn’t give any help to Apple. CNN reports that, according to the cable dated April 2009, Chinese government refused to investigate facility where fake Apple laptops were manufactured, because this could affect local jobs. Also it doesn’t approve Apple’s plans for a raid on a mall selling electronics in the Guangdong province, as it could scare away shoppers.