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China-Japan-Koreas
DaimlerChrysler and BMW very cross with Chinese
2007-09-01
DaimlerChrysler and BMW are threatening legal action over Chinese-made vehicles that they claim are copies of their own models. DaimlerChrysler said it would consider unspecified legal action if Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan Automobile showed the Noble, which it says closely resembles its Smart Fortwo minicar, at next month's Frankfurt motor show, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

'We take intellectual property protection very seriously,' the newspaper quoted a spokesman as saying. 'We decided to reserve the right to pursue legal action.'

BMW said it was considering legal action against the importer of another Shuanghuan vehicle 'the CEO', which it claims closely resembles a previous version of its X5 sports utility vehicle which was discontinued in 2006, the newspaper said.

DaimlerChrysler, which following its sale of Chrysler is due to change its name to Daimler AG, has not elaborated on its legal plans, but the company is understood to have contacted Shuanghuan about the issue. The German company last year succeeded in stopping another Chinese producer from bringing to market another vehicle that closely resembled the Smart.
Posted by:classer

#13  And don't forget that japanese industry was rebuilt by the American W.Edwards Deming and his principles of Total Quality Management.

Emphasis on quality.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-09-01 23:32  

#12  An important reminder, Abdominal Snowman. Thank you.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-09-01 19:28  

#11  The Japanese didn't start with bad quality and work their way up.

They had a tradition of good quality, and sold cheap stuff while they rebuilt their economy.
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman   2007-09-01 19:12  

#10  At least the Japanese started with cheap quality and worked their way up

Unlike the Chinese who started with cheap quality and are working their way down.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-01 18:16  

#9  The article doesn't come out and say it, but this seems like classic reverse-engineering rather than a more prosaic licensing contract dispute. IOW, brazen intellectual property theft rather than subtle IP theft.

All that's bad enough (and good enough reason for a trade war), but then add in minimal or no regulation, shoddy contracting and fraudulent cost cutting (what's in the paint, carpet, chassis, doors, beams, etc.) and we'll be reading about "product flaws" from China for years to come.

Good luck to them either finding a products liability legal tort system, or consumer product regulations in depth.

At least the Japanese started with cheap quality and worked their way up - same for the Koreans. Hope the Indians are paying attention.
Posted by: Ebbeting the Anonymous9645   2007-09-01 17:58  

#8  saves on those bothersome "do not resuscitate" forms
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-01 14:21  

#7  Great comment from another Chinese crash test video:

"WOW!!! the whole car is the crumple zone!!!!!"
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-01 14:16  

#6  DaimlerChrysler and BMW are threatening legal action over Chinese-made vehicles that they claim are copies of their own models.

Wow! I'll bet nobody saw this coming. Daimler and BMW are two of Germany's largest industries. I wonder if they'll have the courage to initiate a boycott of all Chinese goods? There needs to be a growing movement towards economic boycott of China for its predatory commercial conduct.

Just a few short months of a total lockout would implode China's economy so badly that they wouldn't be building any cars—much less copying those of others—for a very long time. It is far better that we tank the communist Chinese regime now—while their military is still so outdated—than wait until they can retaliate in any effective way.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-01 14:09  

#5  Wait no more tu - tada. Do not do this at home boys and girls. This should only be attempted by professional crash test dummies [or one billion Chinese].
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-09-01 14:03  

#4  Yeah, I can't wait for the crash test videos.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-01 13:45  

#3  DaimlerChrysler and BMW are threatening legal action over Chinese-made vehicles that they claim are copies of their own models.

I doubt they look the same after the usual governmental standard crash test.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-09-01 11:43  

#2  Wonderful title, classer. :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-09-01 11:17  

#1  Caveat emptor. Lie down with dogs, etc. Heh.

I wonder when the rest of the world will figure out that doing buisness with the Chi-coms is a dumb idea.
Posted by: N Guard   2007-09-01 10:47  

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