iPhone 5 v. Goophone I5: Which Came First, the Knockoff or the Original?
Apple, Inc.’s invitation to its September 12th event all but confirmed the introduction of the iPhone 5. As expected with any product that was this highly anticipated, tech blogs around the world continually released over the past year leaked product information, photos and videos of what is rumored to be the iPhone 5. While the leaked information may have created a lot of buzz for Apple, it may have simultaneously caused Apple a lot of unwanted grief.Goophone, a Chinese tech company launched the Goophone I5.
A YouTube video posted by Goophone before the iPhone 5’s release showed the Goophone I5, which looks like a compilation of all the leaked iPhone 5 photos and videos. In fact, GizChina has reported that Goophone actually used leaked photos of the iPhone 5 to create a knockoff that they could release before Apple had a chance to release the iPhone 5. Taking it even one step further, Goophone has claimed that it holds a patent on its Goophone I5 in China and will sue Apple for patent infringement if Apple tries to release the iPhone 5 in China.
Fresh on the heels of its patent infringement victory against Samsung in which Apple had alleged that Samsung lifted technology and ideas from its patented devices, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Sources: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/did-chinese-company-leaked-photos-copy-unreleased-iphone-165555052.html http://www.bgr.com/2012/09/05/iphone-5-design-copied-patented-goophone-i5/
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