Company Uses Leaked Pics to Build and Patent iPhone 5

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Apple may face some trouble if it tries to launch the iPhone 5 in China. Why? Because someone has already built it.

Apple is in the middle of a massively public patent infringement battle with Samsung. The Cupertino-based company claims that Samsung stole some aspects of the iPad and iPhone's design for its own Galaxy line of tablets and smartphones. In fact, Samsung isn't the only company that Apple has filed suit against for patent infringement, and considering its history with filing suits, we imagine it will be pretty upset by the actions of a Chinese company that has built a phone based on leaked images of the iPhone 5. Not only that, but this company has also patented the design of said device.

 

BGR points to an article on GizChina that says a Chinese manufacturer has thrown together a phone based on Apple's rumored iPhone 5 and patented the device. The company said it plans to sue Apple if it tries to put the iPhone 5 up for sale in China. GizChina reports that the GooPhone i5 is an Android 4.0 smartphone based on a Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM. In keeping with iPhone 5 rumors, the GooPhone i5 features a 4 inch screen, smaller dock connector and larger external speaker grills.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 5 at an event next Thursday, so we'll have to wait until then to see how the real iPhone 5 compares to the GooPhone i5.

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Jane McEntegart
81 Comments Comment from the forums
  • bourgeoisdude
    Karma?
    Reply
  • math1337
    Can't say i'm surprised. I wonder why no one else has thought of this idea, considering how bad design patents are, and how many leaks come out for all new products.
    Reply
  • rohitbaran
    Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. I can only laugh at the patent system.
    Reply
  • mcd023
    I LOL'd. such irony. man. they put that out fast. HAHA
    Reply
  • akopp21
    Haha! Wait..patents actually matter in China?
    Reply
  • Vorador2
    Karma hurts like a bitch.

    akopp21Haha! Wait..patents actually matter in China?
    Methinks only if you're chinese. Or in bed with the government. Or both.
    Reply
  • igot1forya
    I'm glad to see this, not because I hate Apple or anything, but because things like this highlight how STUPID these types of patents are. How are round corners on a rectangle or the placement of a button patentable? Sure it makes sense to be unique, but come on already!
    Reply
  • amdwilliam1985
    akopp21Haha! Wait..patents actually matter in China?
    Yes, kind of.
    Remember that Chinese company that got 60(or 600 millions) from selling the brand name iPad to Apple a little while ago?
    Love this idea.

    Someone should patent something like "communicate with your phone/pda using Chinese languages" in China, haha, wait and get rich.
    Reply
  • shahrooz
    well deserved :)
    Reply
  • matt_b
    This is sad. I know that there are a lot of anti-Apple fans on this site, but replace the Apple name with the name of another company (the list is quite big). This happens too often and too much in China and stacks against the company that actually innovates/invents/sells the product. Anyone wish to buy a non-Ford F150? Or how about a Seasonic power supply not made by Seasonic at all? I really don't care what company it is that is being affected, It would be refreshing to find a way to stop this country from encouraging such reckless piracy, thievery, and downright (although admittedly very good) copying. Too many OTHER good companies pay a far higher price from this kind of crap. Everyone realizes China is mocking other countries, the people, and their laws and laughing at you as they do this right?
    Reply