Fake seems bolder than the original

                                          

Imitation is the best form of flattery. This is where the world needs to learn from China. They not just replicated but have developed a whole new business model out of it. A business model, Copy-to-China, that thrives on counterfeiting products to China by creating fake copies as good as the original.

Due to recent skirmishes between India and China, a brouhaha is spilt over the Indian media regarding the military capabilities of the two rivals and even some major power operating in the region. This has revealed a fact-- Chinese J-20 stealth jet is a copy of USA’s F-35 stealth jet. I was bewildered on reading this and a question began to pop up in my head. Is it practically possible? I had read about numerous big deals of the sharing of technology. If it was possible to simply copy, why would any country do that? If they could do it for such sophisticated technology, what about simple things? And all of this compelled me to start my work.

Web browsers to apps, cell phones to big machinery, cars to jets and buildings to cities, and whatnot, they have copied everything. Yes, you ought to doubt it but just read on. Before I hover you over a list of examples, I will first pull the curtain off from this system.

‘Copy-culture’ of China is mostly unique because it happens here on such a large scale that every so often one can get confused between the real and duplicate. Copying is not illegal in China rather, to an extent, its system promotes it. It is seen as a skill with which one can pay tribute to the master of the real thing and even prove oneself as equipotent to him. This culture traces its links to the learning of calligraphy where learners had to exactly reproduce what masters did and on doing it the best was considered skilled and talented over the others who couldn’t. Over the years, it has expanded itself in the education system of China, focusing on rote learning to extreme levels put replicating into the nerves of youth there.

Do you wish to go to Paris but are worried about the high costs? Still, want to have a glimpse of the iconic Eiffel Tower? You can opt for China’s Paris! Yes, Tianducheng, also called Sky City in the suburbs of Hangzhou in China, has a 108-meter-tall replica of Eiffel Tower with 31 sq km of Parisian architectures. Hold your breath tight, I am going to take you to London’s Tower Bridge. China’s copy of this architectural marvel is across a river in Suzhou standing 131 feet tall. Adjacent structures seem to imitate London. You can even find cops in red, the dress used by the London police.

If you can’t afford a Rolls Royce, China has Geely for you, and to substitute Innova Crysta, go for The Changan Lingxuan which costs significantly lesser. Even Maruti 800 was replicated by Zyote to supply the inexpensive car in China. Nevertheless, there is no copyright law in the automobiles, yet manufacturers count on mutual understandings. China junks it. Even when Jaguar and Fiat, the two global automobile giants tried to sue the Chinese makers, they failed. But copying here is not just limited to some product, even entire stores are copied. There are several ‘near-perfect’ duplicated stores in Zuhai, Apple retail outlets not owned by Apple. Quite alarming when it takes place so openly. Yes, if you don’t pay attention, you might end up buying a Blockberry instead of Blackberry. There are some Chinese companies that have even copied some key designs of iPhones. We can go on and still never end, such big is the list. But let’s move ahead.

Copycat is a word that has somewhat become synonymous with China’s tech industry. US President Donald Trump has fired Huawei over certain similar accusations that even extended to spying for the state. The dynamic economy of China and stupendous growth along with alleviation of poverty are some of its visible benefits. Harnessing the true potential of tourism has been the main idea behind the copying of architecture. Tourists from the world over flock in large numbers to enjoy these places and appreciate the creativity. While copying helps build for the present, it also gives the best experiences and ideas to the scientists, developers and businesses to pull up their socks for taking a lead in the future. This is clearly visible with the robust internet technology, development of the education sector in China and the growth of its business with a large trade surplus.

It’s not who does it first rather who does it the best, makes the most profit in business. Thus, by copying certain things China jumps over the costs and time required in R&D rather capitalises that to rise better and faster. Steadily its own technology base has established and now it is a leader in R&D too. Riding over all the criticism, its growth is an illustration for other nations, but the culture isn’t. Academics and economists give various stats regarding the losses to various countries due to this theft of information and replication by China. It poses a threat to intellectual property and the progress of emerging economies. With its massive industrial base, China can thrust any product in the market by copying it from even smaller countries. The governments and powerful institutions the world over need to take stringent action against this ‘copying giant’. The world needs to learn and respect the original. The glory of institutions remains till they succeed in keeping this world safer and equal for all.