NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) – Apple Inc has moved swiftly and, until now, secretly to crack down on stores in the Chinatown section of Queens, New York, accused of selling knock-off Apple gear emblazoned with the company’s distinctive logo, according to documents unsealed Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.

Court records reveal that Apple has already seized unauthorized iPod, iPhone and iPad accessories sold by two stores in the Flushing neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens, and is now demanding the names of its customers and suppliers. It is also asking one of the defendants — Apple Story — to change its name to keep consumers from confusing the unauthorized gear with Apple-sanctioned products.

The trademark infringement lawsuit was first filed on July 25 against Apple Story and Fun Zone Inc., both owned by New York resident Janie Po Chiang, who is named as a co-defendant in the suit, along with Fun Zone manager Jimmy Kwok.

But the case remained under seal until Thursday, when U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ordered the record to be made public following a request from Reuters.

Under the U.S. trademark counterfeiting law, a company can file a trademark infringement action under seal initially, so as not to tip off the accused counterfeiters before seizure orders are executed.

The unsealed documents show how seriously Apple is responding to threats by pirated goods to its brand, one of the best-known and most valuable. The lawsuit also comes amid increasing reports of fake Apple products — and even whole counterfeit Apple stores — popping up in China. Read More in Thomson Reuters News & Insight