Its a real shame that Apple (or someone who claims to have Apple’s legal authorization) is shutting down a service that ships ‘iPhone 5 conversion mod kits.’ These are $30 kits which replace the back panel of the iPhone 4 or 4S with a new panel modeled after the rumored ‘iPhone 5.’ While iPhone5mod is selling custom back plates that bear the Apple logo, it seems silly to threaten charges against the company for counterfeit. After all, in order to use iPhone5mod’s product, you need have purchased an iPhone 4 or 4S to apply the kit to.

iPhone 5 Mod Kits For iPhone 4/4S Being Shutdown, Act Fast

Just like an ‘iPhone 5′, except without a 4″ screen, 4G, or upgraded internals.

According to iPhone5mod’s blog, they’ve elected to stop selling their conversion kits… within the next 48 hours. I’m not sure if that counts as acting “expeditiously to have the infringing items removed from the website,” as the notice they’ve received demands. They’re still offering to ship orders and accept payments for kits in the meantime. If you want to make your iPhone look like the leaked pictures and rumored renderings, act now before iPhone5mod pulls their content.

iPhone5mod’s claims to use “parts of the same quality as Foxconn suppliers” including an “Original Camera Glass Lens of same Quality as Original iPhone Back Panel“. The back panel includes glass-like acrylic (which will at least be less shatter-prone than glass), an aluminum plate, as well as an internal metal back plate paired with a heat-sink sticker.

I don’t have a problem with the product, but these retailers are really tempting fate. By their own admission in the product’s page, this is something of a fly-by-night operation: “This item will be available for a limited period of time only. This is to prevent Apple from hunting us down, but do not worry we will still ship out every single order even if Apple do contact us.” Sounds legit.

I wonder if iPhone5mod secured commercial rights from The Blue Van.

Is it wrong that this company is making a profit selling replacement back plates that bear the iPhone logo, or is Apple not harmed by these transactions? Should iPhone5mod just slap a Samsung logo on their panels and call it a day? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.