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Apple accused of copying iPad design

Kevin Kwang ZDNet Asia | February 4, 2010 5:17 AM PST

Summary

The president of Chinese hardware manufacturer, Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial, told reporters that the iPad was a copy of their own tablet PC.
Chinese hardware manufacturer, Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial, is exploring a possible lawsuit against Apple over allegations the iPad design was a copy of its own tablet PC.

In a news report by Spanish daily El Mundo, the Chinese company's president, Wu Xiaolong, said in an interview that the iPad was similar to its P88, which was commercially launched in October last year.

Read: Special Report: It's an iPad

Wu said he was "angry and flabbergasted" after seeing the news about Apple's iPad.

"It is certainly our design. They've stolen [it] because we presented our P88 to everyone six months ago at the IFA (International Electronics Fair) [in Berlin]," he was quoted in a Shanghaiist article, which cited extensively from El Mundo's report.

Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial is based in Shenzhen, China. The Chinese city is recognized as a location where the manufacture of "shanzhai" or "copycat" mobile phones and other electronic devices is proliferate, Bryan Wang, Springboard Research's Asia-Pacific research director for connectivity and country manager of China, told ZDNet Asia in a previous report.

But Wu, in a separate report by PCWorld, was quoted to say about the company's P88: "For this thing, we are not 'shanzhai' because we were first."

Shenzhen Great Loong Brother Industrial submitted a patent application for the P88 last May, according to Wu, who noted that the approval process can take about a year, making it difficult for the company to sue Apple in the United States. But, he added that "if the iPad enters the Chinese market, we will sue them this spring."

For more on this story, read Apple accused of copying iPad design on ZDNet Asia.

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RE: Apple accused of copying iPad design
mauricejunior 5th Feb 2010
These people are sick, their product looks nothing like an iPad.
The only thing in common is the black border around the screen.
No home button, no rounded back, no capacitive screen.
They've lost their noodles!
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What 'Chinese market'? We're globalized
HypnoToad72 4th Feb 2010
We're free market, flat world, and all the other fried egg theories!

There is no "------ market". Just "market". Only when it suits the corporate
elite, of course.
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What exactly are you saying?
xuniL_z 4th Feb 2010
Can't tell if you are being sarcastic and if so, on which point.

Obviously countries have their own patent processes and laws. Apple and others often release a new product only in the U.S. at first, then Europe and maybe China later on.

He is saying since the iPad's patents were first, in the U.S., they cannot sue here but will when the product is sold in China.
I know that is obvious and I'm not saying he is right, I don't believe apple coud steal a design and get a product to market in 6 months, no how, no way.

The iPad is essentially a large itouch. It looks and acts essentially the same with some new functionality the larger screen can accomodate.
Apple even sort of disses the itouch on their own site under the ipad's features, Safari section saying full page view "as it's meant to be" (the story from Apple and apologists was a bit different when people claimed the touch's screen was too small to be of use) and it continues to say you will get a page "that is actually readable". If that's not talking about their own itouch, and any other small wireless device, I don't know what it is talking about.
Funny they would compete directly with their itouch...maybe it's sales have peaked? Stats showed the ipod in general had peaked last summer I think?...but I'm not sure if the video added in the last iteration has changed that or not.
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Thats all it is nothing more than that. He might have copied iPad design
from the leaks that they might've gotten from the assembly line workers
in China. Not a big deal.
--Ram--
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Yeah, that's true.
xuniL_z 4th Feb 2010
If I were him I would have avoided free publicity that makes him come off as lying about things and stupidly suggesting Apple pulled off stealing their design and getting a product prototype ready in 6 months.
Publicity is publicity but that actually tells me to not ever bother looking at their product.
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Are you kidding?
evilkillerwhale@... 4th Feb 2010
China steals designs for chips all the time.
They directly copy them wire for wire (there
have been tests done where companies would put
in components that served no purpose and they
would show up in Chinese chips) in no time. Six
months is plenty of time to copy something.
Personally, I don't think that's what Apple
did.

Beyond that: If a patent was filed before Apple
got to the market (so it seems), then Apple's
in the wrong. It's just how it is.
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Oh the irony and MS is enabling China
richardw66 4th Feb 2010
China has been caught out on many occasions hacking into WIndows
PCs to steal intellectual property.

Many US technologies are being ripped of in China thanks to
Microsoft's bad software design.

Here we have Apple releasing a larger version of some of their existing
products.

Sometime after Apple released the iPhone and the iPod touch a
Chinese company makes something they now are in effect claiming is
similar to Apple's existing product.

If they are correct in saying that their product is just like Apple's and
close enough to the iPad to be covered by patents then they have
copied Apple's intellectual property.

This whole thing stinks - and a world where state secrets and
company secrets go to China thanks to MS also stinks.

Isn't it interesting that Bill Gates supports China at a time when they
have been caught by Google stealing using MS product?
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some ones smoking the funny bush
ariesghost 5th Feb 2010
You are incoherent and rambling, your point is moot. M$ has nothing to do with this, stay on topic.

Also, Proof to every allegation or you are a fool and a liar. (When I say proof I/we/the world expects credible proof, not your normal tin-hat-dictator M$ is out to get me shtick.)

TL;DR Pics or it didn't happen. (Partial pics are fail.)
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Timing is important too
aj.redmond@... 4th Feb 2010
Steve Jobs and Apple were working on the iPad for 3 years before the iPhone was released in 2007. Apple waited until certain technologies caught up to the requirements of the iPad design. This is not something that is new or even recent in Apple's concept. There will be patents on the iPad that will date back to 2004. It seems this is another attempt to jump on the Apple gravy train.
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Apple or Not?
Horus418 5th Feb 2010
Hey! Max-i-Pad an exact copy of the P88. There is no doubt, oh! Sorry no it is not, it (P88)has USB, Multi-Tasking, A full OS, larger screen, will play flash, and there is no TOP SECRET info about memory as it has 1gb and is expandable.

Max-i-Pad you would have to be a c**t to buy one and you will look like a T**T when you are sat in a coffee house not seeing a WHOLE PAGE of the internet without Flash, LOL.

Apple stealing a design from another is so funny, shame that in real terms the P88 stole its design from iPhone. Comedy.

Turn to PC's Apple fans buy something that works and is cheaper than your plastic tat.

Take care all.
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Markets
brichter 4th Feb 2010
Apparently, you've never tried to sell anthing in China. There is indeed aa "Chinese Market".
use to lose trade with the Asian market. You can't market things the same over there. One case in point, the golf industry is always trying to get a foothold in Japan. They think the Japanese use unfair trade practices, because they usually buy Japanese balls. Here balls are sold in packages of 3, but in Asia, 3 is an unlucky number. They won't buy the American balls because they are in an unlucky pack.

Little things here are huge over there, and things that really make us mad, don't bother them at all. In the US, people would buy something in their color, if it didn't cost more, or much more. In the Orient, people won't buy a color if it is unlucky, it doesn't make any difference how much they could save.

Is there a Chinese market, absolutely, there is also a Japanese market, and a Korean market. These could be tapped very nicely, if we could just look at things from their point of view. That isn't likely to happen, because we know how to run things here.
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I think you mean 4 balls.
khammo01 Updated - 4th Feb 2010
I think you mean 4. 4 is an unlucky number.

And it is very true about differences in the markets.
The Japanese market does not prefer to buy American products because they are perceived as being lower quality (some exceptions of course - such as Apple products!).

It's the other way in China. American stuff is typically better quality but it's too expensive for the local market.

And sometimes the import expense makes it more costly than an equivalent local product, although some of this could be government protectionism.
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This is a joke right?
dave95. 4th Feb 2010
Right? A company from the land of copycats with no respect for intellectual property is claiming Apple copied from them? Sounds like a cry for attention and they're getting it.
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P88: Atom based running at 1.6 Ghz with 1GB RAM. 90 minutes
battery and internal mechanical 160 GB HD.

iPad: Apple A4 (ARM Cortex A8/A9) running at 1GHz. 600 minutes
battery life and up to 64GB internal SSD.

P88: 10.2" resistive touch screen at 1024X600
iPad: 9.7" capacitive multi-touch screen at 1024X768

P88: Windows XP.
iPad: iPhone OS.

P88: 2.25 lbs
iPad: 1.5 lbs (already a bit heavy)

P88: Ports galore.
iPad: Standard iPod Dock connector

Copycat? These are two different devices that both happen to be
rectangular.
I'm disappointed in the iPad, but it is obviously far superior to the clunker these dorks are pushing. 90 minutes of battery life? Seriously? Why bother?
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Re: Even funnier...
chefp 4th Feb 2010
(various trivial spec comparisons)
"Copycat? These are two different devices that both happen to be rectangular."

That's a bit of an oversimplification. Even so, Apple has sued for far less. They sued the city of NY for using a logo that had some vague similarities to the Apple logo, but in reality was very distinct and completely different design. We're talking about a logo here, not even a tangible item.

Whatever the case, the law is the law. Apple likes to sue anyone and everyone. Apple can't claim exemption.
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Over-simplification, How so?
Bruizer 4th Feb 2010
"Copycat? These are two different devices that both happen to be
rectangular."

OK, how about they are both electronic devices that have a battery, RAM,
a processor, a screen and are rectangular.

Neither of these are the "first" touch tablet device that meet those
specifications. Heck not even the iPod Touch, 2.5 years ago can claim
that.

No, The similarity of these two devices is they are both rectangular.
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Typical Apple apologist
T1Oracle Updated - 4th Feb 2010
Apple can sue for making things with the slightest of similarity to their product, but God forbid anyone sue Apple for doing the same.
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Apologist?
Bruizer 4th Feb 2010
How? How does the iPad resemble the P88. They are both rectangles of
different proportions. Everyone has already said the iPad is nothing but
an over-grown iPod Touch. No one in the blog sphere accused it of
being a P88.

Sounds to me, like the P88 copies the iPod Touch from your line of
thought.

But then again, T1Oracle, just another Apple Hating Zealot willing to warp
reality to whatever view you want to hold.
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The Beatles have brought suits many times against the tech company,
because of the similarity between their "Apple Records", their suit never
really had clout until iTunes was making mad money. People get sued
when they make alot of money, it is inevitable, please name one multi-
million dollar company that has never sued anyone, for anything.

There's alot of d-bags in the world, and if you make alot of money,
people will try to find a way to get it from you.
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Microsoft, et.al.
windozefreak 4th Feb 2010
nt
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Apple did not sue NYC...
msalzberg 4th Feb 2010
they protested a logo that NYC was proposing to use.

Under trademark law, Apple (or any company) must aggressively
protect its trademarks or it will lose them. Even Apple's lawyers may
have known that there was little to protest over, yet the law requires
that they make note of anything similar to their trademarks.

A trademark, while not 'tangible,' is an important business asset, and
can be very valuable. In the case of Apple's logo, it is the only thing
they use to identify their stores and their computers. You'd need a
magnifying glass to read the word "Apple" on a MacBook.

Other companies do the same thing: Lego v a Chinese company that
made a toy called "0937," and anyone remember is Linux distro called
"Lindows?"
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Intellectual Property is a term used by those who wish to conflate Patents, Copyright and Tademark as the same thing. They are not.

They are separate examples of Intellectual Monopolies (granted by Governments), covered by different laws and regulations, that exist for predetermined (and supposedly short) periods of time, after which the Thing patented, or copyrighted is supposed to become public domain. Trademark ownership lasts only for as long as the company or person actively asserts ownership.
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The joke is really one side of a story
sashkashurik 4th Feb 2010
Please check the specs properly!
There are a variety of models available on the website. For example, PC-GPS-P88(http://en.hkjulong.com/Product-37.html), comes quite close to iPad...
So which exactly model are we talking about??? P-P-P88 or the above mentioned?

Moreover, we are talking about exterior design and intended use and not specs...
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Oh and Apple never lied before.
Stan57 4th Feb 2010
Oh and Apple never lied before.
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the doesn't mean that Apple stold the design. As others have stated, the iPad is really just a larger version of what they have had going on. They are marketing it as something brand new. That is the reason the Chinese think it was stolen from them.

If you know anything about research and development, it is easy to see that Apple couldn't have copied it and made it in 6 months. The iPad is just an iPhone on steroids, without the phone. If it were really something new, it might be stolen the Chinese.

If the Chinese push this any farther, Apple will be forced to admit that it was just a marketing trick to
get customers to buy existing technology under the guise of new technology. Apple is the past master of this trick, they just got bushwacked by Chinese pirates, looking to cash in on there own trick.
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I suppose they could market it with the tagline:
"Why buy the iPad when you can buy the original?"
First, its clearly an enlarged iPod Touch as far as form factor goes.

Second, I doubt Apple threw out its old design and used this one instead with less than 6 months to launch.

Third, China ignores every single copyright and patent out there, why should we takes theirs seriously?
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Sounds like they got it backwards
happyharry_z 4th Feb 2010
iPad is an iPod with a larger screen. If the P88 is the same, they copied Apple's iPod.
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nt
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Agreed
dwerk 4th Feb 2010
At least everyone seems to be openly admitting that the iPad is simply an iPod Touch with a larger screen. Thanks for the revolutionary product Apple.
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RE: Apple accused of copying iPad design
g-ssg-22738810691057158710505623722271 4th Feb 2010
This is hilarious... And I'll bet the P88 weighs 15 lbs, takes 8 minutes to boot and has similar look to something else out there.

I'm no Apple/Jobs fan by any means, but this is just too funny!
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.... and this is important, WHY?
kd5auq 4th Feb 2010
wink
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If I remember correctly
nucrash 4th Feb 2010
This is the same company that copied the iPhone and started releasing them into the wild.

I still don't buy this, but I would like to see just how the P88 is so close to the iPad... Does it run the same OS?

Who really knows. I don't buy this for a second, but then again, I don't want to admit defeat to the Chinese. I was the same way 20 years ago with the Japanese.
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does not?
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LOL Am I reading this right? A Chinese company is going to sue Apple because it stole their design? I wonder if it also plans on suing the 10,000 companies that will be releasing iPad clones within the month? After all, isn't that their design as well?
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Mr. Wo is an idiot
odcchaz 4th Feb 2010
He obviously knows zero about design patents. The design of the P88 is glaringly different from the iPad. This guy is just blowing smoke. I guess any publicity is good when you can piggy back on Apple's.
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indeed.
magallanes Updated - 4th Feb 2010
The Ipad is not a clone of the P88, the P88 is vastly superior in almost every single aspect, for example the number of port (that Ipad lacks).

Anyways :WHAT'S DESIGN?.

The ipad and the p88 is flat.
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It is ironic that Mr. Wo is say that Apple is copying the design of the P88 but the iPad has a different basic design and functions. However, it is the Chinese (I'm Chinese) are copying Apple design like the knockoffs if the iPod & iPhone. I seen those knockoffs in Chinatown stores but they are really awful in quality & sound but they exist and someone really want to buy to show off something that looks like and iPod or iPhone they can.
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One of the latest creations out of China is an Apple MacBook Air ripoff
that looks like a Mac but of course isn't. A MacBook Air is made from
aluminum not cheap plastic, which is a giveaway in itself. As you
mentioned, some people are content with the illusion of a product and
couldn't care less about its authenticity. There's your ready-made
market for counterfeit products like those made in China and elsewhere.
Rant and dream on, Mr. Wo.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8l8nfz
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lol, wut?
blackepyon01@... 4th Feb 2010
An iPad, IMO, is an iPod Touch that's been flattened by a cement roller. What design?
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The JooJoo is way better!
m_jurrens 4th Feb 2010
The only reason the iPad gets so much press is not because it's technologically superior but rather because it's Apple. The JooJoo for example exceeds apples specs on multimedia performance, web compatability, form factor and screen size, resolution, a camera, macromedia flash 10, etc... Just like the HTC touch series is probably a better phone the media would rather report on Apple. Is there some sort of under the table payola Apple is shelling out to make the media so biased?
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where can i get a JooJoo?
john_gillespie@... 4th Feb 2010
Your right, it's a massive conspiracy with billions of dollars involved! But
now they know who you are and you are a danger to their scheme. I sure
won't bother with any long term plans. I'm afraid there is no where you
can hide from these sinister people. RIP
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The Archos 9 is way better!
medezark@... 4th Feb 2010
FTFY
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Not bad
levinson 4th Feb 2010
Yeah, not bad. A bit smaller, about the same weight, half the battery life,
but it comes with real software: productivity suite, anti-virus, etc. and a
bit more expensive, too. Mind you, I don't think the iPad needs anti-
virus software. The Archos does, so that means it also need the usual PC
update services, anti-spyware, and related hassles.
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Joojoo
levinson 4th Feb 2010
Way better? A bit bigger, a bit heavier, shorter battery life, and no app
store is better?
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JooJoo vs. iPad, Product Comparison
m_jurrens Updated - 4th Feb 2010
Heavier yes, if you consider 2.4 pounds to be heavy. But with that you get:

JooJoo: 12.1 Inch screen
iPad: 9.7

JoooJoo: built in video camera with VTC software
iPad: none

Joojoo: 1366X768 Resolution with 1080p Playback
iPad: 1024X768 Resolution with 720p Playback

JooJoo: Stereo Speakers
iPad: Mono

These are a matter of preference:

JooJoo: Flash and Java WebApp Support
iPad: Apple Appstore apps

And here is where the iPad is strong:

Weight
Hard Drive
Battery Life
3G Support(If you buy the more expensive model)
Apple appstore(If your into that sorta thing)
Docking Cradel
Easily interfaces and shares data with other apple products.


For me I would say the JooJoo is better for what I want it for. I dont want a laptop, I dont want a computer, I just want a web browser that has engaging multimedia that can properly display the sites I like to brows for a quick laugh like youtube.

The Choice is yours:

https://thejoojoo.com/sites/specification
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
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Both vs. Laptop
m_jurrens 4th Feb 2010
Compared to the laptop I set on my chest that burns me either would be better for me, webbrowsing and videos are mostly what I use my laptop for anyway and it stays corded so battery life greater than 1 hour at high performance is a huge upgrade even if it is 5 hours.
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Only 4 GB of SSD storage? Better?
Snooki_smoosh_smoosh 4th Feb 2010
5 hr battery life? Better?

The iPad may certainly have short comings, but it can run all day on a single charge at starts with 16GB of storage.

Both are certainly better than Wu's Tablet though.
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RE: Apple accused of copying iPad design
mauricejunior 5th Feb 2010
These people are sick, their product looks nothing like an iPad.
The only thing in common is the black border around the screen.
No home button, no rounded back, no capacitive screen.
They've lost their noodles!

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