Geely says the GE is not a Phantom copy… Say what?

AVANTI R5 · 04-25-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Rolls-Royce considering trademark suit against Geely GE

Geely GE Limousine - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Earlier this week, we showed you the first live shots of Chinese automaker Geely's new GE model, a three-seat luxury sedan unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show. With its gigantic, upright waterfall grille, boxy proportions, Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, and LED starlight headliner, it didn't take an enthusiast's eye to see that Geely is openly aping the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Understandably, that development hasn't been sitting well with Rolls-Royce officials, who promptly got on the horn to their lawyers after clapping their eyes on the GE. While the British luxury firm has stopped short of saying they intend to sue, according to an article in the U.K. Telegraph, a Rolls-Royce spokesman admits "Rolls-Royce is currently keeping its options open and is in consultation with its legal advisers."

At an estimated £30,000 – around $44k USD – for the GE (versus £250,000/$365k for the Phantom), it could be argued that few are likely to confuse the two vehicles, but even still, critics argue that Roller would appear to have a compelling case that cars like the GE are not only intellectual property theft, but that they could also serve to erode brand equity of the genuine article.

Geely says the GE is not a Phantom copy… Say what?

The British accused the independent Chinese carmaker Geely Automobile with what they call an imitation of their Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Shanghai Motor Show. Geely says that both cars are different only that they seem to be the same at the initial glance, but when it comes to details the cars are surely dissimilar.
But the people at Rolls-Royce are not put off, but are rather contemplating legal action against the Chinese car company. However, for most in the industry, the production-approved Chinese GE concept obviously borrowed the signature grill of the Phantom, its down-sloping rear deck, and the Flying Lady mascot. However, unlike the real deal, the Chinese version is scheduled to be available in the market with a whole lot cheaper price tag.

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jigga · 04-25-2009, 10:18 AM

This ought to be interesting....

Who would even rule on such a case?

I also thought that the Chinese don't exactly follow the spirit of the rules when it comes to copyrighting and the like?

DeeezNuuuts83 · 04-25-2009, 10:51 AM

Screw lawsuits, Britain should just bomb China

Mariano · 04-25-2009, 01:43 PM

.........all Chinese Cars Are Copies Of Foreign Cars

Masterauto · 04-25-2009, 11:23 PM

Don''t laugh now. The Chinese are making some pretty nice cars now. They have the low labor costs to hand craft at nice costs......I remember when we made fun of Japanese product...then Korean product. Things change..............[IMG]

[/IMG]
So does she spin clockwise or anti clockwise?

DeeezNuuuts83 · 04-25-2009, 11:29 PM

But Chinese cars are blatant rip-offs of other designs while being completely unsafe in the event of any accident more significant than a bumper-to-bumper love tap. The difference was that Japanese cars were almost always reliable products that eventually got the recognition that they deserved. Korean cars were mediocre in the beginning, but they caught up and make some decent products. These Chinese cars, not so much.

MrSaabaru · 04-25-2009, 11:59 PM

is this the car james may reviewed on top gear? if so, he hated it. which also continues the tradition chinese copies have been keeping to.

Mariano · 04-26-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterauto

Don''t laugh now. The Chinese are making some pretty nice cars now. They have the low labor costs to hand craft at nice costs......I remember when we made fun of Japanese product...then Korean product. Things change..............[IMG][/IMG]
So does she spin clockwise or anti clockwise?

I never said that quality was an issue... It's just that they COPY eveything and don't give a Sh#@... Their craftmanship might be good but their "originality" and design talent sucks big time.

JoeyW · 04-26-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

But Chinese cars are blatant rip-offs of other designs while being completely unsafe in the event of any accident more significant than a bumper-to-bumper love tap. The difference was that Japanese cars were almost always reliable products that eventually got the recognition that they deserved. Korean cars were mediocre in the beginning, but they caught up and make some decent products. These Chinese cars, not so much.

what the hell are you talking about?!, the japanese had the exact same path, not to mention the recent up rising of korean cars. The only exception for the Chinese cars, is their uprising at an incredibly pace. Look at their product from 5 years ago compared to the stuff their are rolling out

DeeezNuuuts83 · 04-26-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyW

what the hell are you talking about?!, the japanese had the exact same path, not to mention the recent up rising of korean cars.

Their products were decent for the most part for a while. It's not like Japanese cars only got good in the past ten years. While Korean cars' uprising was more recent, while they sucked it's not like their first cars were absolute trash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyW

The only exception for the Chinese cars, is their uprising at an incredibly pace. Look at their product from 5 years ago compared to the stuff their are rolling out

Don't forget about this death trap that rolled out not long ago:

If you're right, then I don't want to know what their product was like five years ago.

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04-25-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
jigga Scooby Guru Member#: 9960 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: in bed... Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX WRBlue Perl	This ought to be interesting.... Who would even rule on such a case? I also thought that the Chinese don't exactly follow the spirit of the rules when it comes to copyrighting and the like?

04-25-2009, 10:51 AM	#3
DeeezNuuuts83 Scooby Specialist Member#: 34406 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southern California Vehicle: 2006 Evolution IX graphite gray	Screw lawsuits, Britain should just bomb China

04-25-2009, 01:43 PM	#4
Mariano NASIOC Supporter Member#: 56 Join Date: Jun 1999 Chapter/Region: PRSIC Location: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Vehicle: 1999 RS-T (Stage V) 2005 LGT LTD	.........all Chinese Cars Are Copies Of Foreign Cars

04-25-2009, 11:23 PM	#5
Masterauto Scooby Specialist Member#: 198376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Vehicle: X5D Subaru BRZ Nissan GT-R	Don''t laugh now. The Chinese are making some pretty nice cars now. They have the low labor costs to hand craft at nice costs......I remember when we made fun of Japanese product...then Korean product. Things change..............[IMG][/IMG] So does she spin clockwise or anti clockwise?

04-25-2009, 11:29 PM	#6
DeeezNuuuts83 Scooby Specialist Member#: 34406 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southern California Vehicle: 2006 Evolution IX graphite gray	But Chinese cars are blatant rip-offs of other designs while being completely unsafe in the event of any accident more significant than a bumper-to-bumper love tap. The difference was that Japanese cars were almost always reliable products that eventually got the recognition that they deserved. Korean cars were mediocre in the beginning, but they caught up and make some decent products. These Chinese cars, not so much.

04-25-2009, 11:59 PM	#7
MrSaabaru Scooby Specialist Member#: 74709 Join Date: Nov 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Fort Wayne-ish Vehicle: 2007 Solstice 05 Yamaha R6 & 04 Saab 93	is this the car james may reviewed on top gear? if so, he hated it. which also continues the tradition chinese copies have been keeping to.