5 historical ways Apple fights to protect its brand

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Apple, a Cupertino-based multinational American company, is one of the world’s most prominent technology companies. Founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, Apple produces popular digital devices, including iPhones, iPods, Macs, and iPads.

Since its start, Apple’s adopted several policies to beat its competitors and maintained its dominance in the technological world. Especially during the last ten years, Apple sold at least a 1.4billion iPhones because of its organizational culture and creative models.

Apple is considered the world’s #1 creative company, and its innovations are evident in the designs and features of Apple’s products. Its corporate and organizational culture enables the company to ensure creativity among the employees involved in product design and development.

Its management focuses on innovation among the employees at all levels, including the knowledge, skill, and ability to create innovative products and business models.

Apple’s high level of secrecy is an essential feature of a company’s policy. Surprisingly, senior Apple engineers even have no idea about the final product or app until launched. People working on software are totally unaware of hardware and vice versa.

Though the COVID -19 shifted Apple’s office culture to work at home, employees still work behind secure doors. They are barred from disclosing their tasks, even with spouses.

Despite Apples’ successful policies, Apples’ ambition to beat its competitors and protect its brand is violating labor laws. According to a report, the working conditions at three Apple operated Chinese factories violated China’s labor laws.

The report highlighted that around 70,000 people in these Apple products’ manufacturers worked more than Apples’ 6o hours per week. These unethical conditions were highlighted in 2010 when almost 14 workers killed themselves at Apple’s biggest supplier in China.

Some employees were pushed to work for 12 hours, while others were forced to work 16 hours without being offered breaks to drink water. They were forced to work in coercive conditions and discouraged to refuse overtime and leaves.

In September, some congress members accused Apple of weakening an anti forced labor bill named “The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.” The bill was put forward to stop forced Uyghur labor in China. If the Senate passes it, it will place responsibilities on American companies to ensure that their supply chain was not engaged in such abuse.  

To maintain its dominance, Apple restricts the apps that compete with OS features. It is facing legal charges worldwide because it uses its power to maintain its supremacy over its App store.

In August 2020, Epic Games introduced a direct payment system for Fortnite to avoid Apple’s App Store fees(30%). In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store, preventing the players from downloading the game.

What people on Twitter are saying

Despite operating as one of the most renowned companies, Apple’s anti-competitive behavior and unethical practices to maintain its power are really problematic. What are your thoughts in this regard? Don’t forget to write in the comments below.