Chinese Company Used Leaked iPhone 5 Specs to Build Knockoff, Hopes to Sue Apple

[xune]

Chinese Company Used Leaked iPhone 5 Specs to Build Knockoff, Hopes to Sue Apple for Patent Infringement
By Melissa Knowles | Trending Now ? 4 hrs ago



Just the other day, we were hearing about Samsung getting in legal trouble over patent violations with Apple. A federal court decision ruled that Samsung owes Apple more than $1 billion in restitution. Samsung plans to appeal the decision, saying it never attempted to steal anything from Apple's iPhone.

Next week, on September 12, Apple is expected to introduce its highly anticipated iPhone 5, but the company may find itself on the receiving end of a patent-infringement battle. Chinese tech company Goophone is launching the Goophone I5, which looks suspiciously like an iPhone in the company's video on YouTube.

In recent months, tech blogs all over the world have released leaked photos and videos of what is rumored to be Apple's iPhone 5. The pictures show what appears to be a longer, thinner, but altogether similar version of previous models of the best-selling smartphone in the world. The Goophone I5 will run a version of the Android operating system that mimics the look of Apple's IOS. Goophone claims to have already patented its phone in China and vows to sue for patent infringement should Apple try to release the iPhone 5 in China as well.

One commenter on Goophone's YouTube account wrote, "the clone wants to sue the original...THIS IS THE FUTURE!" Of course, since the new iPhone 5 does not technically exist for the public yet, we'll just have to wait and see.

video: http://youtu.be/AdfJCDdQuzE

GooPhone Claims To Have Patented The iPhone 5′s Design In China
By Zach Walton ? September 4, 2012

You may remember the GooPhone i5 from last week. The phone featured a design that was similar to the rumored design of the iPhone 5. Most, including yours truly, dismissed it as another interesting Chinese knock off. It seems that GooPhone doesn?t see it that way.

GizChina is reporting that GooPhone claims to have a patent on the iPhone 5′s design in China. Well, they have a patent on their design, but it?s remarkably similar to the rumored design of the iPhone 5. When released in China, it might be hard to tell the two apart. GooPhone is apparently betting on that to be the case and will be ready to bring a patent lawsuit against Apple.

It?s hard to say exactly how successful GooPhone would be in protecting their ?patent? in a court of law, but precedent is clearly in their favor. Chinese electronics company Proview fought Apple over the iPad trademark for months, but eventually settled to the tune of $60 million. It will be interesting to see Apple?s reaction if GooPhone really does sue them over the iPhone 5′s design.

Realistically speaking, it?s highly unlikely that Apple would be caught off guard by GooPhone?s accusations. They most likely have all the major design points of the iPhone 5 patented and ready to go for any potential legal battles. At best, GooPhone might be able to convince a few people that they?re selling a cheaper version of the iPhone 5.

http://www.webpronews.com/goophone-claims-to-have-patented-the-iphone-5s-design-in-china-2012-09

lol wut?!

[pwrhamr]

 LOL!!!   If they were made in AMERICA the Chinese wouldnt have known what was coming, how to make it, and beat them to the market.

  So are the billions they are losing and going to lose to lost sales and legal fees going to be less than what they would have paid for fair AMERICAN wages?
 
  Apple. The Great American shakedown gets shakendown. Thats beautiful.

[xune]

I don't see the clone successfully suing the original. If so, it'd be a first.

[Radiation]

They must be crazy to try and take on Apples legal team. Unreal.

[pwrhamr]

  You do realize this is China? Right?  Billions of poor people will be watching "knockoff" movies on wanna be iphones while wearing knockoff Gucci handbags, Versace clothing, and fake Rolexes.
 
  China will tell apple the same thing they told Google, Universal, Paramount, Gucci. Panerai, Rolex and every other Western company "We no speaky english".