Is imitation really the sincerest form of flattery?

[Harry P.]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/04/23/chinese-automaker-blatantly-copies-ford-f-150/?intcmp=features

[Danno]

Now we know the truth!

It's not so odd that MENG produced an American pickup truck model kit (the F2) after all.

They didn't intend to.

They intended to produce a kit of the Jiangsu Kawei K1 and just flubbed the emblems!

[Fabrux]

Like the article says, this isn't the first Chinese copy of an F-150.

[vypurr59]

Imitation is a sincere form of flattery. But outright copy someones design and market as your own is a no-no. But yet we still spend thousands of dollars a year at Wally-World buying all the chinese products they sell, just because we can get them at a lower price. Which are knockoffs from others. If only they would use their powers for good and at least try to copy some old AMT, JoHan and Revell kits.

[Joe Handley]

Did Palmer's engineers teach some if these companies how to design some of their copies?

[niteowl7710]

  On 4/24/2014 at 7:55 PM, vypurr59 said:

Imitation is a sincere form of flattery. But outright copy someones design and market as your own is a no-no. But yet we still spend thousands of dollars a year at Wally-World buying all the chinese products they sell, just because we can get them at a lower price. Which are knockoffs from others. If only they would use their powers for good and at least try to copy some old AMT, JoHan and Revell kits.

While Ford can't publicly turn a blind eye towards it, with 1.3 BILLION people in China, the people who want (and can afford) a REAL F-150 are going to buy one. This cheap kinda-sorta looks like it, 105HP Mitsubishi power thing isn't going to put a dent in legitimate Ford sales.

[lordairgtar]

80 MPH top speed....um....No!

[rel14]

Imitation, its been going on since the beginning,,..

[slusher]

They want to cash in on a hot item of the F150. I will sell good to their own people who can't afford the real thing

[charlie8575]

"Ford's legal counsel is investigating how best to address the issue" says the article.

Easy- buy the offending company and start building Chinese-market-only vehicles there.

Or bury them under enough lawsuit they'll go bankrupt. Either is fine with me.

Charlie Larkin

[southpier]

they're both uglier than a bucket of butts. if you're gonna copy, make it something worthwhile.

[Harry P.]

  On 4/25/2014 at 6:47 AM, charlie8575 said:

"Ford's legal counsel is investigating how best to address the issue" says the article.

Easy- buy the offending company and start building Chinese-market-only vehicles there.

Or bury them under enough lawsuit they'll go bankrupt. Either is fine with me.

Charlie Larkin

I'm kind of surprised that Ford doesn't take immediate legal action. And not just Ford... the Chinese copy many other manufacturer's cars and sell them as their own. Must have something to do with trying to sue the Chinese in an American court and the complexities involved in that. Probably easier said than done.

[Danno]

  On 4/25/2014 at 1:38 PM, Harry P. said:

I'm kind of surprised that Ford doesn't take immediate legal action. And not just Ford... the Chinese copy many other manufacturer's cars and sell them as their own. Must have something to do with trying to sue the Chinese in an American court and the complexities involved in that. Probably easier said than done.

It's probably a little more complicated than it seems at first blush. Since the offending Jiangsu Kawei K1 isn't available in the U.S., it would likely be a matter of suing the Chinese company in a Chinese court, Guess how that would go.

International justice? Well, . . . just look at how effective the United Nations is.

As has been commented, this is not the first rodeo. Even in the same article, it's pointed out that a knock-off of the Chevy Colorado is already in production in China. And, probably the first time it happened was back in the 20s and 30s. The Russian GAZ AA truck was a direct rip-off of the Ford AA. There wasn't much immediate legal action Ford could take then, either.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Danno

[Ford guy]

  On 4/24/2014 at 7:55 PM, vypurr59 said:

Imitation is a sincere form of flattery. But outright copy someones design and market as your own is a no-no. But yet we still spend thousands of dollars a year at Wally-World buying all the chinese products they sell, just because we can get them at a lower price. Which are knockoffs from others.

Totally agree! Americans just don't seem to care where the products come from, as long as they get it cheap! They don't realize they're hurting the American economy.

Hyundai and Kia have been copying other car companies designs for years. It doesn't surprise me a bit that China wants a part of it.

I just hope Ford lawyers can put an end to all of this!

[Modelmartin]

  On 4/25/2014 at 2:57 PM, Danno said:

. The Russian GAZ AA truck was a direct rip-off of the Ford AA. There wasn't much immediate legal action Ford could take then, either.

Henry didn't sue because he sold them the tooling and parts. Check out the short version of the story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ

[FASTBACK340]

  On 4/25/2014 at 2:57 PM, Danno said:

It's probably a little more complicated than it seems at first blush. Since the offending Jiangsu Kawei K1 isn't available in the U.S., it would likely be a matter of suing the Chinese company in a Chinese court, Guess how that

TOP GEAR BBC did a piece on the Chinese knock-offs. They make a BMW copy that forced BMW to sue, and loose, in Chinese court.

Edited April 25, 2014 by FASTBACK340

[Danno]

  On 4/25/2014 at 5:01 PM, Modelmartin said:

Henry didn't sue because he sold them the tooling and parts. Check out the short version of the story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ

That is the short version. While it's true the situation began as a contractual agreement between Ford and the Soviet Union, it ended early when the Soviet Union 'ended' its agreements with Ford early, but kept producing the vehicles without paying patent royalties. That's when the name changed from NAZ to GAZ.

I agree, it's not exactly the same as blatant reverse-engineering/copying an existing vehicle without the creator's involvement in some manner, but the effect was much the same. Ford contemplated legal action, but correctly recognized the futility of fighting the Soviet Union in the Soviet Union's courts.

[charlie8575]

  On 4/25/2014 at 10:06 AM, southpier said:

they're both uglier than a bucket of butts. if you're gonna copy, make it something worthwhile.

Can't argue with that too much.

Charlie Larkin

[Chuck Most]

  On 4/25/2014 at 10:06 AM, southpier said:

they're both uglier than a bucket of butts. if you're gonna copy, make it something worthwhile.

Yeah, if you are going to copy something, for Pete's sake don't copy a highly profitable product that sells nearly a million units a year in its home market, and therefore may end up being a highly profitable and huge selling product in the market where you're selling your knockoff. That just smacks of stupidity...

(Note, that was sarcasm, people. )

[crazyrichard]

uhhmm there are so many chinese replica cars .... its just ..... they did a lot of cars like this

Edited April 26, 2014 by crazyrichard

[crazyrichard]

and it gos on modern versions are now ....one thing is true they are getting better in ripping off stuff (sadly)

and whell why not get "inspiration" from everywhere (doh)

even the smart ...lol

oh and you guys worry'd about the ford this thread was about ... just check they violated a real piece of american heritage >>

but not only cars get ripped by the chinese , watches and just about everything you can think of they copy ..

but the italian vespa did something about it >> read http://www.drive.com.au/bike-news/vespas-crackdown-on-chinese-copies-20131114-2xhvf.html

[crazyrichard]

ps my postes where only the tip of the iceberg a random quick search on google .. there areso many more cars , bikes , mopeds and then you would be amazed by how many other well known items ... they copy ...