You’re clearly out of your depth here, so let me educate you with facts instead of nationalist cheerleading and naive interpretations.

1. “Less constrained by historical frameworks”
This phrase is corporate doublespeak, often used to justify derivative design choices under the guise of innovation. Xiaomi’s SU7 and YU7 are a textbook case: their resemblance to the Porsche Taycan and Ferrari Purosangue is not coincidental it’s deliberate. Designers at Xiaomi didn’t just ignore their own non-existent history; they heavily borrowed from others, banking on the legal gray zones of IP enforcement in China. This isn’t inspiration—it’s appropriation.

2. Patent volume ≠ Enforcement credibility
Yes, China leads in patent filings, but you’re conflating quantity with quality and volume with fair enforcement. According to WIPO and OECD studies, over 85% of Chinese patents are filed domestically, mostly by local firms, with only a fraction involving high-value, enforceable technologies.

But the real issue isn’t how many patents are filed—it’s how few are defended fairly. Here’s just a small sample of how biased IP enforcement in China is:
– Jaguar Land Rover vs. LandWind X7 (2016–2019):
Land Rover won—but only after three years of global media pressure and reputational damage, and only after LandWind had already capitalized on the copy and reaped sales.

– Apple vs. Shenzhen Baili (2016):
A local court ruled the iPhone 6 violated a minor Chinese patent on a smartphone design, leading to a temporary sales ban. A complete reversal of how foreign companies are treated.

– Facebook, Google, Uber:
Systematically blocked, undermined, or copied. Try enforcing a U.S. patent in a Shenzhen court and see how far you get.

3. China’s track record on foreign IP is abysmal:

– According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2024 IP Index, China ranks only 26th globally in enforcement despite topping the charts in patent filings.

-Foreign companies filing patent lawsuits in China have a win rate below 35%, often tied up in bureaucratic hurdles or counter-suits filed by local entities to stall proceedings.

You said, “If anyone had a case, they’d sue.” They do, and they have. But Chinese courts are notorious for favoring domestic players, and only enforce IP when it’s politically or economically convenient.

So next time you want to masquerade as an expert, come armed with data, not just flag-waving bravado. Until then, maybe don’t try to rewrite the narrative on a system that’s systemically biased and strategically exploitative.
A$$tard .

'less constrained by historical frameworks' means what it means: not constrained by your brand design history, which seems more than obvious with only two cars available yet.

For the rest of your 'patents' let alone 'counterfeiters' whining, rest assured that if any offended company had any case they would pursuit it: China is the first country in the world by -very, very- far in yearly granted patents, if any competitor have a grudge they just have to sue, pretending that there isn't 'patent' or 'IP' enforcement in China would be dead wrong (just ask the WIPO).

'less constrained by historical frameworks' means what it means: not constrained by your brand design history, which seems more than obvious with only two cars available yet.

For the rest of your 'patents' let alone 'counterfeiters' whining, rest assured that if any offended company had any case they would pursuit it: China is the first country in the world by -very, very- far in yearly granted patents, if any competitor have a grudge they just have to sue, pretending that there isn't 'patent' or 'IP' enforcement in China would be dead wrong (just ask the WIPO).

Excellent!
Then you have already established a market in China.
And per your logic, you should have no issues when OTHER Chinese Companies take inspirations from your products development to offer your customers another cheaper alternative.
So no need to ask the owners of the company anything. Being less constrained by historical frameworks, like pesky Patents and Intellectual Property, in China, should give EVERYONE the freedom and opportunity to offer alternatives.
Right ?

I actually work in a company that tries to develop a product which AFAIK already exists in China and only in China.

Should I ask the owners of the company to dissolve it?

Excellent!
Then you have already established a market in China.
And per your logic, you should have no issues when OTHER Chinese Companies take inspirations from your products development to offer your customers another cheaper alternative.
So no need to ask the owners of the company anything. Being less constrained by historical frameworks, like pesky Patents and Intellectual Property, in China, should give EVERYONE the freedom and opportunity to offer alternatives.
Right ?

sure , maybe some Chinese Guy can "take inspirations" from your job, and your company, and help you out a bit, by imitating it cheaper in China instead.
idiotic

For Reference Tianyuan Li , aka Sawyer, graduated in 2009 with a Ba. in Industrial Design in China and went from Senior Designer at BMW in 2021, to HEAD of Design at Xiaomi (General Manager of Xiaomi Industrial Design AND Vice Chairman of the Xiaomi Group Design Committee).
Pot.