Mr. Wolf, I must say that I could not agree with you more on this matter. In fact, every other nation should be doing this – including America.

“Americans are holding on to the wrong jobs.” Dr. Ranasinghé has reiterated this many times… I believe if American corporations hire the best for their jobs… the best person for the job… it will be a different nation. Just look at our economy these days, if we had the best leaders in higher office, we could in a better situation… not have to increase our debt limit and continue to borrow.

“I have personally visited the Ikea store in Beijing and it looks exactly like every other Ikea you have ever been in …except there are less pink people, and more… much more Chinese shoppers. Indeed, it was so packed I had to walk through the Kitchenware department twice trying to edge myself over to a counter packed with Chinese Shoppers …to look at some knives that caught my eye.”

As a layman researcher, I know very little to this IKEA store(s). Nevertheless, I must ask. Do they sell (in China) the same brands/products as they worldwide? If so, how are they getting their hands on these products? Later, I will discuss how they are getting Apple products in the fake Apple stores.

“In Japan you can visit very fine restaurants such as First Kitchen or Moss Burger. Perhaps the WSJ could argue that they are McDonalds or Burger King copycats. Or you – using your excellent insight – can say they are – instead – providing something that is uniquely Japanese. Where else can you get a tasty Rice Burger, or Curry Burger or French Fries with a choice of 5 different flavors including green tea… This I believe is true innovation, and knowing who your consumers are.”

I concur with you on this. The WSJ should have not right calling them “McDonalds” or “Burger King.” It will be preposterous to call them copycats… and I hope you all can agree. In fact, if McDonalds or any other American fast food chain modifies their menu (or if they did) to offer similar options (“Rice Burger, or Curry Burger or French Fries with a choice of 5 different flavors including green tea”), then these fast food chains should be the copycats… and not the Japanese restaurants.

“Do you think an American Pizza is like a pizza in Italy? I have had pizza in Italy, it is not like American pizza. I have had pizza in Japan, it is nothing like American pizza. Or do you think US Chinese food is anything like real Chinese food ? No …we’ve “copycatted” it and products get adapted to particular tastes. To erroneously claim copycatting is far too self-aggrandizing a term.”

I agree with you on this too. Do not go too far. We can see this across the border …in Mexico. Many of you probably have visited a local Mexican restaurant in the US, but when you go to Mexico you can notice that it is not the same. Still, there are Americans – as Dr. Ranasinghé would say, under educated, unwashed-masses – that think “Taco Bell” is real Mexican food. Trust me; I have never tasted anything like that in Mexico.

“Certainly I am not saying that the originator of the idea should not be remunerated for their idea…but only IF ITS AN EXACT COPY …not if it’s even slightly different …not if it has been even slightly adapted.”

The problem with the fake Apple stores is that they were EXACTLY the same. They were using the same layout designs, the same tables, Apple logos all over the store, Apple employee t-shirts and Apple lanyards… as we have seen in real Apple stores. It had the same colors and the same feel as an actual store. Click on the web link to see pictures:

http://birdabroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/are-you-listening-steve-jobs/

They copied everything… and I believe that is why the media is calling them copycats. They were so identical that even the employees… yes, the employees… were fool to believe it was a real Apple store.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/us-china-apple-fake-idUSTRE76K1SU20110721

What about the products? Well, it was first believe that the products were counterfeited, but they were not. They were real Apple products and they were selling them at a less cost than the real Apple stores.

They were smuggling and shipping Apple products from other countries. Today, they release an article busting burglars smuggling iPhone’s and iPad’s with Cable and Pulley. This explains how they were possible to sell them at lesser price… avoiding the 20% border tax.

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/08/08/chinas-apple-smugglers-go-cat-burglar-with-cable-and-pulley/?mod=e2tw

“If a business looks similar to other businesses, that is not necessarily a copycat, take it into good cognizance that it may simply be that it is a good business model, and that any businessman or businesswoman would be foolish enough not to recognize that fact. This has nothing to do with westernization, and everything to do with living in the global arena.”

The problem is that they are not similar… they were built to be the same. Why put the Apple logo? Why call it Apple store? Why go above and beyond to fool people to think it is a real Apple store? The intention here was not to copy a business Model… this was to fool people to think they it was an Apple store.

“…consumers are the same around the world, the cultures may differ, the languages may differ, but people all over the world worry about their families, and want to buy the best for them.”

I love what you said here and because this is true. I am sure the owner(s) of these store understand that too because they wanted to benefit from a successful tech giant who spends billions in R&D, branding, marketing, manufacturing, distribution and has a track record of many years building its own worldwide empire.

- Rene Lopez, MBA