Although the annual CeBIT fair is a veritable haven of tantalising technology belonging to some of the world’s leading hardware and software manufacturers, it is also becoming an event of opportunity for those tech manufacturers with slightly more questionable reputations within the industry.
Authorities clamp down on patent violations at this year\'s CeBIT fair in Hanover. Credit: CeBIT.
Specifically, news publication Heisse Online reports that members of the German police force and state prosecutors are focusing their efforts on clamping down against CeBIT exhibitors in Hanover that are peddling devices that all-too closely resemble much more renowned technology products.
For example, that focus this week shifted to the MiniOne, a seemingly competent and stylish little smartphone created by Chinese manufacturer Meizu Technology Ltd.
Sporting a modified Windows CE operating system, 3.4-inch touch screen, 3.0 mega pixel camera, GSM/EDGE, WLAN (802.11b/g), Bluetooth, and a 667MHz processor, the MiniOne has come to the attention of authorities due to its similarity with Apple’s popular iPhone.
The Meizu Technologies display stand at this year’s CeBIT was targeted yesterday by the Hanover criminal investigation team, with the company’s attending staff questioned and given forms to complete while the stand itself was subsequently emptied of all devices and labelled as “closed until further notice” by the investigators.
However, a Meizu representative has since said the investigators were not directing their attentions at the company’s smartphone device, but rather at licensing issues connected to one of its portable MP3 players. She also pointed out that the stand had later been restocked, but without the MP3 player in question.
It’s not just Meizu Technology Ltd being targeted during this week’s high-profile event, with it being merely one of many exhibitors that have fallen beneath the gaze of authorities looking to stamp out technology patent violations.
German authorities are expected to hold a press conference today to fully detail the extent of their widespread campaign.
View blog reactions
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)
Advertising
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)