“The iPod manufacturer at the heart of a furor over the treatment of workers in China has reduced the damages it is seeking from a pair of journalists accused of defaming the company,” Dan Nystedt reports for IDG News Service.
Nystedt reports, “Hong Fujin Precision Industry, the largest exporter of IT products in China, slashed the amount it is seeking to 1 renminbi (US$0.13) because the original figure, 30 million renminbi, had blurred the issue at hand, a company representative said Thursday. The company also requested that the courts unfreeze the journalists’ bank accounts and other assets.”
“‘To refocus the public’s attention back to the real issue, [Hong Fujin] will withdraw the provisional seizure motion,’ it said in a statement posted on the Taiwan Stock Exchange by its Taiwanese parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry. The companies operate under the trade name Foxconn Technology Group. But the company also added the publisher of the report, the China Business News, to the lawsuit as a defendant,” Nystedt reports.
Nystedt reports, “Hong Fujin is seeking redress through the defamation lawsuit after a whirlwind of bad publicity provoked by allegations that it treated workers poorly. The story was one of many to follow in the wake of an article by the British newspaper Mail on Sunday alleging long hours, low pay and poor working conditions at the site in Longhua, China, which produces iPods and other IT products.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Qka” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Apple ‘working behind-the-scenes’ to help resolve plight of Chinese ‘iPod sweatshop’ journalists – August 30, 2006
Apple asked to intercede on behalf of Chinese ‘iPod sweatshop’ reporters – August 29, 2006
Foxconn sues journalist, editor over iPod ‘sweatshop’ story – August 29, 2006
Apple releases ‘Report on iPod Manufacturing’ – August 17, 2006
Should Apple build its own factory in China to manufacture iPods? – July 03, 2006
iPod maker admits breaking Chinese labor laws; says Apple approved sweatshop labor – June 26, 2006
Apple begins ‘thorough audit’ of Foxconn iPod factory – June 20, 2006
Apple iPod manufacturer Foxconn sternly denies iPod sweatshop claims – June 19, 2006
Apple iPod ‘sweatshop’ story a ‘poorly researched sensationalist article’ – June 19, 2006
Apple rebuts Chinese iPod factory claims – June 13, 2006
iPods made in Chinese sweatshops? – June 13, 2006
iPod-manufacturer Foxconn cuts damage claim to against journalists to 1 renminbi (US$0.13)
what’s that … like a day’s wage over there?
It’s like Steve’s salary– symbolic. More powerful in some circles. Makes them appear principled, not tyrannical.
I thought they lowered it to 1 million, not just 1. According to <a href=”http://www.ipodobserver.com/story/28224″>iPod Observer<a>, anyways
I have a feeling this is what Apple meant when they said they were working “behind the scenes” to resolve this…. Thank goodness!
Never mind, looks like iPod observer copied it incorrectly from the Reuters article they reference. My bad.
Good move by Apple, and ultimately, Foxconn.
Just make them stand up and appologize for shoddy journalism, then move on.
Screw that. Shoddy journalism should be punished. I”m sick of these dirt balls getting away with made up stories and zero fact checking and just trying to extend their liberal agendas. F them!
Sadly, this is still a half year’s pay in that country.
“I”m sick of these dirt balls getting away with made up stories and zero fact checking and just trying to extend their liberal agendas.”
Yeah you wouldn’t want to confuse liberal’s made up stories and misinformation with the neo-conservatives misinformation agenda in the U.S. The world isn’t big enough for liars on both sides of the political spectrum.
Bush’s dirty laundry: Good one.
13 cents can mean the difference between making money and losing money in stocks, so 13 cents is still money, without 13 cents you cant park your car at a metered parking and get a ticket for $200 and if you fail to pay, you will get locked up which will result in stress or if you do pay its still stress but that stress will develop into cancer in your mind or even worse that stress can end up getting you into a traffic accident which will not kill you but hospitilize you for life. which means you womt be able to get a clean shave on your own and all the visitors that come seee you at the hospital will be grossed out and you will be so embaressed that you wish you were dead. but the laws wont permit you to kill yourself.
so lets not ignore 13 cents, it is still money.
If people were charged $0.13 to post on this forum, I have quite a feeling people would only say things worth while… or not at all. Judging by the previous posts, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Perhaps, since this is MDN, we should look at $0.13 from Apple’s perspective? The prices on studio displays have recently dropped by $100 or more on several occasions. Even Apple doesn’t care about $0.13 in a lawsuit. How much did they just pay Creative?
Yes, the amount seems symbolic. From what I
know about asian culture, honor and integrity
are very important, shame is the consequence.
Not like here in the U.S., where a journalist
would defame his mother just to get the front
page.
OMG, I can’t believe it MW: mother
I just don’t understand this. It seems to me that Apple took a lot of flack over the garbage this reported said also. Why did Apple help him? True, they don’t have to slam him, but he should pay something significant.
And what’s the “refocusing the issue” thing? Is the issue that Foxcomm IS at fault? If so, drop the suit. If not, slam the reporter for every cent. What’s the problem?
How gracious of them. But the message is still clear. Don’t write about us or else.
Let’s count again, the number of conservative media outlets on a good day: Fox News, Washington Times, Tampa Tribune, NY Sun, WSJ, TAE, Talk radio, most of the blogosphere.
Now count the number of liberal media outlets: everywhere else. That means most of the TV coverage, most of the magazine coverage, most of the newspaper coverage. And by most, I mean 95% or more.
So tell me, where does this “Neocon” message come from? How does it get out when liberals run just about everything? And since “neocon” is slang for “Jewish conservative”, then what you’re really complaining about is Jews not knowing their place.
How racist and how predictable of the left.
Sources like the one you mentioned here will be very useful to me! I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.
accident claim company
I’ve read Nancy Miller’s newest article and it’s remarkable! I’m trying to read all these articles afterward. Thanks for the great stuff!
car insurance estimates
I can see that you are putting a lot of time and effort into your blog and detailed articles! I am deeply in love with every single piece of information you post here. Will be back often to read more updates!
auto insurance company directory
What a able-bodied accounting abundant section of information. I bethink that I was searching for something like this from a brace of months. I am animated that I begin my way actuality by coincidence!
dubai web design