There's a small chip in real lightning cables, which possibly includes some authentication information. Cloned lightning cables may be identified by this chip not reporting a serial number properly, I don't know for sure.[1]<p>If they didn't allow charging with non-Apple cables the hue and cry would be deafening. The warning is there to cover themselves in cases like that lady who was electrocuted by a 3rd party charger.[2]<p>[1] <a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/196148/the-security-chip-inside-apples-lightning-cable-isnt-even-as-sophisticated-as-those-found-inside-printer-cartridges/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cultofmac.com/196148/the-security-chip-inside-app...</a><p>[2] <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electrocuted-while-answering-iphone-may-have-been-using-fake?page=all" rel="nofollow">http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1283818/woman-electro...</a>