Chinese company immune to irony, logic; threatens lawsuit
Apple’s just put out a product that’s widely and, to some degree, accurately described as an oversized, iPod touch on steroids. So, an overseas company that wants to sue the mothership over the iPad’s design seems a bit absurd.
PCMag reports that Shenzhen Great Long Brother Industrial Co. — yes, most Chinese companies do have names like this, though there’s usually a reference to golden this or dragon that — is threatening to sue Apple over the design of the iPad, seriously.
“We are considering legal action, but we can not do much in the United States. But, if Apple brings the iPad to China, we will be forced to denounce them, because it will certainly affect our sales,” said (Google translation) Shenzhen Great Long Brother Industrial president Wu Xiaolong. “It is certainly our design. They’ve stolen because we present our p88 everyone six months ago at the IFA (International Electronics Fair in Berlin).”
And, that’s the really silly part of this. Apple’s been building and “trying on” different iPad designs for years already.
Moreover, that Apple would copy a design — that’s notably an upsize version of an existing Apple design — from a small, unknown Chinese company is absolutely absurd…
What’s your take?
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February 5th, 2010
It depends on patents filed really – if the company in question filed a patent for a device that looks identical to the iPad under Chinese law and Apple haven’t then they could have a case – and who are the Chinese government realistically going to support?
On the other hand, I agree with you – it probably is a load of rubbish and a company is just panicking that Apple will beat them in the market with a device with poor features and poor value for money.
February 5th, 2010
Long Brothers is the IT equivalent of a nasty Will-Knot.
February 5th, 2010
The Chinese are learning about abusive lawsuits from the US. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
February 6th, 2010
Ah So.
February 7th, 2010
So if the iPod is a direct copy of this Chinese monstrosity, then will Delicious Library sue this Chinese company for stealing their (Delicious Library’s) real-wood-with-front-facing-books interface?
February 7th, 2010
The Chinese haven’t invented a noteworthy thing since General’s Chicken.