Editing Apple Inc. (section)

=== Challenges: Navigating a Complex Landscape   ===

Despite its successes, Apple faced significant challenges in 2012. The company grappled with intense competition, particularly from Samsung, which emerged as a formidable rival in the smartphone market. A high-profile patent infringement lawsuit initially awarded Apple over $1 billion in damages, though this figure was later reduced<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war |quote=In 2012, a California jury awarded Apple more than a billion dollars in damages from Samsung for patent infringement. }}</ref>.  

Supply chain controversies also tarnished Apple’s reputation. Reports of labour malpractices, including excessive recruitment fees and allegations of child labour, prompted the company to reimburse $6.4 million to affected workers<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jan/25/apple-child-labour-supply |quote=Apple ordered its suppliers to reimburse excessive recruitment fees in 2012, with $6.4m handed back to contract workers. }}</ref>. Regulatory scrutiny added to Apple’s burdens, with antitrust investigations and patent disputes complicating its operations. Criticism of its proprietary components, which limited device repairability, further strained its environmental credentials<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/3/16087628/apple-e-waste-environmental-standards-ieee-right-to-repair |quote=Apple has been criticized for making devices hard to repair, which is seen as a barrier to environmental product standards. }}</ref>.  

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