Countries, from the U.S. to Japan, regularly accuse China of copying designs. Indeed, multinational companies in these countries spend an inordinate amount of time and money trying to prevent their products from being copied. But Shanzhai -- "copycat" design --represents a vast business opportunity.Shanzhai is an open platform for grassroots innovation: Apple, Nokia, and Samsung smartphones get copied, but the knockoffs adapt the original designs in ways that appeal to Chinese customers. For example, Shanzhai designers might add a flashlight, key in areas with unstable electricity.
To read the full, original article click on this link: What Knockoffs Can Teach Companies About Chinese Markets | Co.Design
