In China, cloning is in full swing - we know that. Unfortunately, this time the wicked practices was committed by the company which is considered far too robust and enjoys almost a worldwide reputation. Who is it? Xiaomi!
What's worse, the company didn't copy a smartphone, but small gadget designed by a small startup, collecting funds for its production.
It started with the fact that last summer two enthusiasts from New York presented on Kickstarter their idea: a small pendant PRESSY that, when placed in the headphone jack of a phone becomes a mechanical key, which might support ie. the shutter button or turning on a flashlight. The device was accompanied by a special application, with which you could define up to 10 different actions for the button, caused by different sequences of its input. A crowdfunding action ended in great success, it was managed to collect almost $ 700,000 which allowed designers to start implementing the gadget to mass production.
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| Original PRESSY and Xiaomi copy photo: Engadget |
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Everything was beautiful until a representative of Xiaomi announced on Google+ that his company intends to launch a gadget called... Mi Press. He described that it is a plug into the headphone jack, which connected with the application becomes an extra key on the phone and allows you to program 10 different actions. Finally, the device was called MiKey and valued at less than a dollar. But the original PRESSY was to cost $ 26 more... What will buyers select - in this case it is almost certain.
The creators of the original idea, however, do not intend to let it go. They said that "they did not expect something like that from a respected company”, and that "they will take appropriate steps ". Of course they have a good chance of winning the litigation, however, the question remains how much it will take and whether originators of PRESSY will have enough power to bring the product to a successful debut. In an optimistic scenario, they will receive from Xiaomi a huge compensation, they will refine the product and bring it to market with a powerful marketing support and publicity aggravated by the process. The worst-case scenario assumes a symbolic compensation from Xiaomi, the death of the PRESSY project and - perhaps - the whole crowdfunding. Will next creative writers decide to show their idea on the Internet, if someone who has enough money will be able to simply steal the idea and not suffer major consequences...? I do not know about you, but I keep my fingers crossed for developers of PRESSY!
Source Engadget
