CBP says that because these parts are imported through non-official channels and bear trademarks, they're most likely counterfeit. Louis says they're original.
Having your stuff taken sounds shitty but I'm not sure that's a significant problem here. The batteries were seized, not destroyed. Louis has (albeit deeply inconvenient) recourse available to get them back, but at some point, somebody is going to have to decide that these are genuine, or they'll be destroyed.
This structure is in place because there are floods of fake parts out there pretending to be genuine. That much should be obvious when anybody can have their phone screen replaced for a fully-branded replacement for $20.
And yes, it's the branding here that's the most obvious catch. If these were unlabelled (video comments talk about just crossing the logo out with a Sharpie), it would be a much harder thing for CBP to assume.
But yeah, these parts should all be on general sale, from Apple. And if they don't want to do it, they need to allow their suppliers to supply those parts to market.
Having your stuff taken sounds shitty but I'm not sure that's a significant problem here. The batteries were seized, not destroyed. Louis has (albeit deeply inconvenient) recourse available to get them back, but at some point, somebody is going to have to decide that these are genuine, or they'll be destroyed.
This structure is in place because there are floods of fake parts out there pretending to be genuine. That much should be obvious when anybody can have their phone screen replaced for a fully-branded replacement for $20.
And yes, it's the branding here that's the most obvious catch. If these were unlabelled (video comments talk about just crossing the logo out with a Sharpie), it would be a much harder thing for CBP to assume.
But yeah, these parts should all be on general sale, from Apple. And if they don't want to do it, they need to allow their suppliers to supply those parts to market.