How Does PopSockets Battle Counterfeiters?

PopSockets LLC founder David Barnet is very protective of his invention and patent.

A former college philosophy professor, Barnet invented the PopSocket in 2010 while trying to figure out how to keep his earbud cord from tangling. His first iterations stuck out too far from the back of his phone before he came up with the accordion concept-putting the pop in PopSocket.

He then went on to create a Kickstarter for his idea. Nine years later, PopSockets LLC sells millions of their product across the globe.

With any product's commercial success comes counterfeiters. Knockoff versions didn't take long to appear in stores and online marketplaces.

Fakes taken down

Instead of allowing fakes to spread, Barnet is protecting his invention, and rightfully so. He and his company have removed virtually all fakes from Amazon and other stores. Attorneys are going after companies still infringing on that patent.

In 2018, the International Trade Commission issued one of its rare general exclusion orders at the company's request. That exclusion order allows U.S. customs agents to confiscate incoming goods infringing the patent whether they say PopSockets or not.

Customers who have ordered from those counterfeiters may never see that product.

That said, there is no comparison between an authentic PopSocket at the knockoffs. The real product is sturdier, less prone to breaking, and can be reused from phone case to phone case for a very long time.

For a quote on authentic PopSockets, go to our PopSockets phone grips page.

Learn more about the differences between Real PopSockets vs. Counterfeit Phone Grips and why buying the real thing protects your company's reputation.

View the full original article by Rebecca Jennings at Vox.

*The PopSockets name and PopSockets trademarks are the property of PopSockets LLC, registered in the U.S. and other countries.