Given how many products Apple sells, it is safe to say that many component manufacturers are looking to do business with the Cupertino company. However Apple has been accused of being a bully and abusing their power to get their way with suppliers, such as with GT Advanced Technologies who called their contract with Apple “oppressive and burdensome”.
Well it looks like GTAT is not alone in their complaints as Japanese MacBook component manufacturer Shimano Manufacturing has recently filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging patent infringement while at the same time detailing why it was so hard to work with the Cupertino company due to their demands.
The patent in question has to do with a precision component embedded in the joint of the power adapter for Apple’s laptops. Apple has denied those claims, instead stating that they worked with Shimano on developing the component since 2005 but were unaware that Shimano had acquired a patent for it without Apple’s permission.
Shimano then claims that in order to get around the patent, Apple began to move their orders away from the company and outsourced from foreign part makers instead, and when the company protested, Apple reportedly bullied their way into demanding steep discounts if they wanted their partnership to continue.
Shimano is also alleging that Apple violated antitrust laws by demanding discounts which is an abuse of power by companies in dominant positions. Safe to say this doesn’t look good for Apple, especially in a country such as Japan where the iPhone 6 is in the number one position.