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Why are chinese pens always called clones? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 2 months ago by Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz to c/fountainpens@lemmy.world

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But more expensive pens or ones made elsewhere are not. There are only so many basic geometric shapes, no one has a patent on the hexagon. Every single company makes cigar shaped pens but they aren't being called knockoffs or clones. And even the ones that are even similar looking but not identical are still called clones. There are a few that even I would agree actually are clones such as the cap-less pens that use the same patented mechanisms but the term is getting way over used.

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No one has a patent on the hexagon, but many Chinese pens are copies of those from other "real" manufacturers down to copying the feed and nib designs, cartridges, etc. There is also the widespread phenomenon of knockoff Lamy styled pens which have stolen the rather distinctive Lamy visual design while also often remaining maddeningly incompatible with genuine Lamy nibs and cartridges. It's impossible to scroll through any list of Chinese fountain pens without passing by several Lami Safari clones.

Quite a few Majohn/Moonman pens are explicit rip-offs of Montblanc designs, and they've even knocked off the Ohto Tasche with their N1. The Jinhao "75" is a rip-off of the Parker Sonnet. Tons of pens are rip-offs of the Parker 51, typically its revived incarnation, including like half of Jinhao's entire product line. Etc., etc. It's not just the retractables.

[–] Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I can see copying parker's trademark arrow clip but that is the only thing I am seeing that might be considered "cloned" on the 75.

[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Jinhao 75 (image cribbed from an eBay listing):

Parker Sonnet (image taken from Parker's website):

The grip section, nib shape, cap band, clip, and body shape are all exact duplicates. I'm pretty sure the sections are even interchangeable.

The only differences are the nib itself (obviously) and its engravings, and a slight shape change to the top of the cap.