Goophone
{{Short description|Counterfeit device manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Goophone
谷峰
| logo =
| key_people =
| industry = Consumer electronics, telecommunication
| products = Smartphones
Mobile phones
Tablet computers
| num_employees =
}}
File:P75-M fake iPhones, smartphones, and tablets busted in Binondo.jpg.]]
Goophone ({{Zh|c=|s=谷峰|t=穀峯|p=gǔ fēng|l=valley peak}}) is a manufacturer of smartphones, tablets and smart watches based in Shenzhen, China.{{Cite web|last=Iowa State Daily|date=2018-05-17|title=Stanley: Replica phone manufacturers sacrifice quality and morality|url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/stanley-replica-phone-manufacturers-sacrifice-quality-and-morality/article_77d583c0-5a11-11e8-99da-ef5cee7b3412.html|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Iowa State Daily|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190029/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/stanley-replica-phone-manufacturers-sacrifice-quality-and-morality/article_77d583c0-5a11-11e8-99da-ef5cee7b3412.html}} The company earned notoriety for releasing counterfeit clones of popular high-end smartphones such as the iPhone,{{cite web|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2014/07/16/wico-goophone-iphone-6-clones/|title=Wico and Goophone Beat Apple to Market with Android-Based iPhone 6 Clones|last=Hodgkins|first=Kelly|date=16 July 2014|work=MacRumors|accessdate=9 March 2015}} Samsung's Galaxy S series{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/galaxy-s5-knockoff-goophone/|title=Just days after Galaxy S5 launch, Goophone makes a knockoff|last=Sherman|first=Joshua|date=3 March 2014|work=Digital Trends|accessdate=9 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/02/26/goophone-s5-galaxy-knock-off/|title=Goophone took just two days to rip off the Galaxy S5|last=Cooper|first=Daniel|date=26 February 2014|work=Engadget|accessdate=9 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.techspot.com/news/50053-chinese-company-patents-iphone-5-design-may-sue-apple.html|title=Chinese company patents iPhone 5 design, may sue Apple|last=Burgess|first=Rick|date=5 September 2012|work=TechSpot|accessdate=9 March 2015}} and HTC One (M8){{Cite web|title=Goophone copies the all new (still-unannounced) HTC One|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-03-06-goophone-m8.html|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Engadget|date=6 March 2014 |language=en-US}} using off-the-shelf systems-on-a-chip from MediaTek{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/08/05/goophone-lg-rolling-out-tri-sim-smartphones/|title=GooPhone and LG to offer first tri-SIM smartphones using MediaTek chips|last=Fingas|first=Jon|date=5 August 2013|work=Engadget|accessdate=9 March 2015}} and the Android operating system, often with user interfaces made to resemble the devices they imitate.{{cite web|url=http://9to5google.com/2014/07/24/hands-on-with-a-functional-4-7-inch-iphone-6-clone-w-heavily-detailed-skinned-version-of-android-video/|title=Hands-on with a functional 4.7-inch iPhone 6 clone w/ heavily detailed, skinned version of Android (Video)|last=Esposito|first=Dom|date=24 July 2014|work=9to5Google|accessdate=9 March 2015}}
Patent rights controversy
In 2012, Goophone was reported to have filed a patent application for the Goophone i5, a clone of Apple's iPhone 5, prior to the latter device's release.{{cite magazine|title=Chinese Knockoff Maker Reportedly Copies, Patents iPhone 5 Design|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/goophone-apple-iphone/|last=Bonnington|first=Christina|date=|magazine=Wired|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=9 March 2015}} The clone itself was also unveiled before Apple was able to launch the iPhone 5.{{Cite news|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/goophone-sue-apple-china-112190/|title=The patent battles just got more ridiculous - Goophone looking to sue Apple in China|date=2012-09-04|work=Android Authority|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}} The company even went so far as to threatening legal action against Apple.{{cite web|url=http://www.cultofmac.com/188571/stupidfone-claims-to-have-already-patented-the-next-iphones-design-will-ban-sales-in-china/|title=Goophone Claims To Have Already Patented The Next iPhone's Design, Will Ban Sales In China|last=Brownlee|first=John|date=4 September 2012|publisher=|work=Cult of Mac|accessdate=9 March 2015}} Law professor Robin Feldman at UC Hastings expressed concern over China's patent policy, stating in an email interview, "It would be unfortunate if a country's patent system were designed to allow this type of behavior."
Goophone repeated the same strategy later on. In 2017, for instance, it released the Goophone iX before the device it is copying in terms of design—the iPhone X—was released. The device, which had significantly inferior hardware, was sold for around £80/$105 while the iPhone X retailed for $999.{{Cite news|url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/iphone-x-cheap-knock-off-3288612|title=The first iPhone X knock-off is here and it's £80 worth of 2014 {{!}} Trusted Reviews|last=Moore-Colyer|first=Roland|date=2017-10-24|work=Trusted Reviews|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}} By the time Apple announced its iPhone lineup in September 2018,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/iphone-xs-max-apple-watch-series-4-goes-on-sale-around-the-world/|title=iPhone XS, XS Max launch, drawing smaller crowds but plenty of fans|date=2018-09-21|work=CNET|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}} the Goophone XS Max - a copy of the iPhone XS Max - was already being sold at Goophone's website.{{Cite news|url=https://www.goophoneshops.com/100055/|title=Goophone XS Max - Official Goophone Shop|work=Official Goophone Shop|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US}}
See also
- Counterfeit consumer goods
- {{portal-inline|Telephones}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
- {{Commonscatinline|Goophones}}
Category:Android (operating system) devices
Category:Counterfeit consumer goods
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