Chinese 'iPhone 5' cloner threatens Apple with legal action
updated 05:24 pm EDT, Tue September 4, 2012
Claims patented design, could block Chinese iPhone sales
The Chinese manufacturer of a phone based on the alleged "iPhone 5" design says it will sue Apple if it releases the expected device in China. GooPhone, the maker of the Android-based i5, claims to have patented the design in China, despite being created after supposed parts for Apple's next iPhone surfaced online.
The maneuver could theoretically stop all iPhone sales in China, or even exports. Apple has already had issues with companies in China taking advantage of its popularity, including one recent legal battle over the iPad trademark in the country. That ended in July with Apple paying Proview a settlement of $60 million, following a long mediation period.
The i5 has a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, a 5 megapixel rear camera, and a 1.3 megapixel front camera. Considering that a clone of the Samsung Galaxy S III appearing on the GooPhone online store shows a lower resolution than the real thing by a vast margin, reaching 854x480 instead of the 1280x720 the original operates with, the 3.5-inch GooPhone i5 is likely to have a far lower resolution than the iPhone 5.
Apple is holding a press conference on the 12th of September, where the real iPhone 5 is expected to debut. [via Gizchina]





Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: 10-28-11
Good luck with that. An entire country of IP thieves or just a few rotten million?