iPhone 5 already banned in China?

Although the iPhone is not expected to be unveiled until September 12th and released later in the month or even in October, it could already infringe on patents in China.

As you know, for some time now, images of the so-called iPhone 5 have been circulating online. A Chinese company has then used these images to produce a smartphone running Android Ice Cream Sandwich that is similar (one could even say exactly the same) to the leaked photos.

This Android smartphone with an interface very similar to iOS is called GooPhone i5!

Moreover, to avoid being tricked (or rather to annoy Apple), this same Chinese company patented the design of its smartphone so that no other company could copy it.

This means that if the design seen in the pictures turns out to be the real one, Apple will be prohibited from selling its smartphone on Chinese soil under penalty of violating patents and therefore paying heavy charges.

Unless Apple changes the design of its phone in China, this story could cause Apple to lose a huge market.

Obviously, if the design seen online for the past few weeks isn't actually that of the real iPhone 5, Apple isn't taking any risks. With that in mind, one might think Apple is deliberately releasing fake design images to draw everyone's attention and prevent them from looking elsewhere. Although that theory is a bit far-fetched!

In any case, we'll know whether or not Apple is, excuse my language, in deep trouble in less than a week!

Wait and see!