“LUXPRO, a Taiwan-based maker of digital audio products, has introduced what can only be described as a blatant rip-off of Apple’s iPod shuffle. LUXPRO’s ‘Super shuffle,’ which is being shown this week at the CeBIT conference in Germany, is nearly identical to the iPod shuffle in every way–from its form factor to its name and advertising,” iPodlounge reports.
“Made from the same white plastic and featuring the same control pad as the iPod shuffle, the Super shuffle is also the exact length (3.3″) and width (0.99″) as the iPod shuffle. The flash memory-based Super shuffle is a little thicker (0.38″) than the iPod shuffle (0.33″), but offers an FM tuner and voice recorder, which the Apple device lacks,” iPodlounge reports.
“Like the iPod shuffle, the Super shuffle is offered only in 512MB and 1GB sizes, and works with both Windows and Mac OS X. Pricing and availability were not immediately available. However, MacNews.de was able to snap a handful of photos of the device and its advertising at CeBIT, which show that LuxPro is not only cloning Apple’s low-cost player, but is also replicating its well-known silhouette ads,” iPodlounge reports.
Full article, more images, and links here.
MacNews.de has photos of the device from CeBIT here.
LUXPRO’s ‘Super shuffle’ webpage here.
MacDailyNews Take: Wow, right down to the earbuds and the lowercase “s” in “shuffle.” But, they really should’ve called it the “iSuper shuffle.” LUXPRO ought to include a note saying, “Designed by Apple in California,” on their ‘Super shuffle’ packaging. For those wondering, Apple has won cases like this before.
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Wow. Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery . . . but this is clearly actionable. I do believe Apple will reap windfall damages from this little stunt!
So Apple can sue by saying that this company is trying to confuse consumers with this product? I mean, did Apple get a patent or how is Apple’s shuffle protected from people copying them like this company did.
Can they do anything about this? Isn’t Taiwan immuned to copyright laws?
Go get’em lawyers
When will the Chinese from Taiwan or Mainland China start to respect intellectual property right? Shame, shame, shame!
The lawyers at Apple are probably chanting “Yes! Yes! Yes!” coz this is such easy money.
Wow, this company is really in for it. Wait till Steve finds out (if he already doesn’t know). I’ll bet he’s really, really, really, pissed.
Brando; it’s called Trade Dress infringement. You might want to look it up. P&G has a group of lawyers who’s only job is to protect them on that issue.
Note to LUXPRO:
How DUMB can you get? Your chances of getting away with
this are less than playing Russian Roulette.
what can Apple Legal do?
I guess I need to know more about copy right laws, but unless some technology was stolen, isn’t it legal?
Is it possible this is just an oriental thing? I mean, all the “copies” of highly creative products come from China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea et al, right? They just copy other products but don’t create much on their own.
WMV
Cool… I want one!
“Oriental” is for describing rugs, not people. I prefer “Gook,” myself.
Excuse me now, I have to go whip up some chicken for dinner.
To DanK
Nope not legal
you need to look up Trade Dress Infringement
basically you cannot copy someone else design and this is a copy right down the line
Apple’s won on this basis before as have other companies
They have to know they are blatently violating intellectual property rights, so it’s odd that they decided to announce ahead of time… Now Apple can just get a TRO and make sure not a single one gets sold.
Is this for real? Looks like a prank to me. No one could put out a product that’s absolutely identical and think they can get away with it. Not even the prince of darkness himself, Bill Gates, would do it — for legal reasons, if not ethical and PR ones.
if the apple shuffle had and radio tuner, id buy one
Isn’t LUXPRO a subsidiary of the SOSUEME Corporation?
http://www.luxproproducts.com
yes, we got shuffle plans from brother in factory, he head boss there.
we enable WMA and voice on chipset, real easy since it built in chipset already. FM cheap too so we put that on there too, just solder 2 leads.
no need iTunes or AAC that just firmware, people hack that on for us later with updates. we make bank on this, get market share for chinese. everyone buy millions super shuffle rather than ipod cause it cheaper and more features.
chinese state government back company, no need for lawyers, be in court for years.
big middle finger steve jobs! thanks for design and money for china!
I have a 1GB iPod shuffle. I really wish it had an FM tuner and voice recorder!
http://www.luxpro.com.tw
Looks like it is for real.
oh, next month super mini come out, but it red like colorwarepc.com mini, with big star on top for china.
run any linux instead, $199 with better video card 64mb and 512mb standard. also have digital audio out and super shuffle dock on top. case all plastic like iBook.
Dont you guys know anything? God. These guys in Taiwan make this stuff, then resell it to American companies to sell here. They design, make it, build it. Most of them keep the rights to the design to sell overseas in some shape or fashion.