In the race to capitalise on China’s rapidly expanding economy and the insatiable desire of its citizens for Western products, Western companies are finding that Chinese imitations are cornering the market before they have had chance to set up there. Piracy has gone beyond the odd knock-off handbag and plastic Rolex to imitating the entire look and shopping experience of particular retailers.
Starbucks, Nike and Adidas have long been fighting against their Chinese imitators, with many Chinese shopping streets rapidly turning into a jumble of real and fake western outlets.
Perhaps the most audacious copy to date is that of 11 Furniture, which closely mimics the experience of going to Ikea, even down to Its Chinese name, "Shi Yi Jia Ju", which sounds uncannily similar to its Chinese counterpart. The brand's world-famous blue and yellow colour scheme runs throughout the store, while the signs all look conspicuously like those of the genuine shop.
Ikea is fighting back through legal channels, however, protecting intellectual property rights in China is very difficult. Undeterred, the Swedish brand has announced that it is planning to open an average of one or two stores a year in China.
Earlier in the year, a blogger living in Kunming noticed an elaborate fake Apple store and posted pictures on The Guardian. It was selling genuine but unauthorised Apple products. The shop had grey slate floors, steel staircases, wood benches and staff in branded blue t-shirts. Everything was so far, so Apple. However, on closer inspection, she noticed that it called itself an 'Apple Stoer', though the staff seemed to think they really were working for the real Apple.
The United States and other Western countries have often complained China is woefully behind in its effort to stamp out intellectual property theft.