Chinese copy

The term Chinese copy is used to describe a reverse-engineered or otherwise recreated copy of something which bears sufficiently close resemblance to the original item to discount the possibility of it being accidental or the result of similar but unconnected work. Such copies, if produced without the involvement or consent of the original designer, would constitute an infringement of a patent or copyright if these measures are in place. China's long history of has led to the promulgation of the notion that most of these copies are produced in the People's Republic of China.
Not all Chinese copies are by definition illegal or improper, however two areas where this is especially true are the automotive and consumer electronics industries, where the term is usually used in a derogatory manner. A key distinction between a "Chinese copy" and a "carbon copy" is that a carbon copy is identical to the original in every respect, while a Chinese copy is often characterised by being of similar appearance but at the same time significantly inferior quality.Examples
The following are cases where use of the term "Chinese copy" correctly implies the close imitation of existing products combined with inferior quality:
* Shuanghuan SCEO, an off-road vehicle manufactured by the Chinese auto maker Shuanghuan since 2007.
* BYD F8, a 2-door convertible car very similar in appearance to the Mercedes CLK from the front and Renault Megane CC from the rear. BYD Auto, a subsidiary of Chinese battery manufacturer BYD Company, have recently produced a succession of vehicles which "resemble models from Toyota, Daihatsu, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Buick, Subaru and ... BMW".
* a multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. In 1995, China secured a $2.5 billion production agreement which licensed China to build 200 Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-27SK aircraft using Russian-supplied kits. Under the terms of the agreement, these aircraft would be outfitted with Russian avionics, radars and engines. The agreement was terminated in 2006 at 95 aircraft when Russia discovered that China had reverse-engineered the technology and was developing an indigenous version, the J-11B.

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