[CES2020] 'Chinese Me-Too Products' Tarnish Innovation Stage

TCL and Hisense Draw Frowns by Exhibiting Samsung and LG Imitation Products

[Las Vegas (USA) = Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] "I feel that there are too many similar products on display. The InstaView refrigerator that we developed and launched now seems to have become almost a global standard.

We even saw the Twin Wash washing machine, for which we hold the patent, at several exhibition booths. It seems that copying is being done too quickly and well, so we are thinking about quickly differentiating our technology."

This is the observation of Kwon Bong-seok, CEO of LG Electronics, at 'CES 2020.'

At the actual CES exhibition hall, there were many noticeable innovative products, but there were also too many imitation products that seemed to copy competitors' products, which caused frowns. In particular, booths of Chinese companies such as TCL and Hisense had a considerable number of products suspected to be copies of Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics products.

At the TCL pavilion, products imitating Samsung Electronics' lifestyle TVs 'The Frame' and 'The Sero' were displayed. The Frame is a product designed with a bezel like a picture frame, and The Sero TV is a vertical TV targeting the millennial generation familiar with mobile devices.

The Sero TV is a new product that was introduced domestically less than a year ago and is scheduled to be launched in the United States this year. Besides TCL, Hisense exhibited an 'Auto Rotate TV,' and Changhong displayed a product called 'Spin,' both similar to The Sero TV.

Chinese companies' copy products appeared not only in TVs but also in refrigerators and stylers. Haier showcased a product similar to LG Electronics' clothing care styler, and TCL exhibited a refrigerator similar to Samsung Electronics' Family Hub refrigerator, which checks internal ingredients and recommends recipes.

There were also many products with similar concepts among domestic home appliance companies, making one wonder 'who was first.' Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics simultaneously introduced new plant cultivators at this CES.