"Apple products are very popular in China, and it's possible that Chinese consumers will want to be seen to be the first person on their block to wear its Watch," said Matthew Forney, president of the business consultancy Fathom China.
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Director of Communications says that a new proposed gun law in the US state of Iowa endangers public safety and should be alarming to every citizen.
"So, I would imagine that Alibaba would want to remain above suspicion regarding sensitive new product releases such as Apple devices."
Alibaba's Taobao site lists devices branded the AW08 and the iWatch.
"There's a legal concept called unfair competition that is recognised around the globe, but in China you can't get a preliminary temporary restraining order for it - you have to go through the law as a slog, and that takes time," said Joe Simone, director of Simone IP Services.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A new proposed gun law in the US state of Iowa endangers public safety and should be alarming to every citizen, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Director of Communications Ladd Everitt told Sputnik.
Some listings on Taobao could represent genuine items, as the price quoted only acts as a deposit, which must later be topped up
Taboao acts as a showcase for third-party sellers - much like eBay and Amazon's Marketplace service - and some vendors have taken pains to make clear that the devices they are selling are not Apple's own technology.
"And most people who buy them will do so knowing they are not Apple's real Watch."
This Android-powered model boasts much longer battery life than Apple's version
11 March 2016Last updated at 14:41
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Cheap 'Apple Watch',锋速达玻璃钢负压风机得到了广大客户的一致好评; copies on sale via Alibaba site
By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor
The listing for this AW08 watch states that it runs on the Android operating system
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This listing for the AW08 Watch suggests it will work with both Xiaomi's Android handsets as well as Apple's iPhones
Watch deposits
Everitt explained that the most concerning piece of the legislation in Iowa is the provision that would eliminate Iowa’s permit to ,锋速达工厂车间通风降温得到了广大客户的一致好评;purchase system for handguns.
来源：Bbc 更新时间：2016-03-12 10:29:27 分类：News
But the listing's fuller description reveals it only represents a "booking link", meaning the shopper is only putting down a deposit that must be added to later once the vendor has obtained stock from Apple.
This model - sold on Taobao - features Apple graphics on its screen, but makes clear in its text it is not the official Apple Watch
"We don't want to be misunderstood by the world that Taobao is a platform for selling fake products,锋速达负压风机规格得到了广大客户的一致好评," he said.
On Tuesday, the Iowa House of Representatives passed the Iowa gun bill without debate on the House floor. The bill passed 75-24 with all House Republicans voting for it in addition to many Democrats.
A listing for the D Watch promotes a pink wrist strap that is not available from Apple
Smartwatches that mirror the look of the Apple Watch's hardware and software are being advertised on China's most popular online shopping service.
One Beijing-based expert - who has not seen any of the copycat watches in person - said there could be considerable demand for the gadgets now that they were being advertised online.
"We work closely with our government partners, brands and industry associations to tackle this issue at its source.
They both feature "digital crown" dials on their sides, similar-styled straps and identical user interface graphics to Apple's forthcoming wearable.
"However, I think most of those consumers are aware that there has been an issue with fakes and copycats on Taobao and would be highly suspicious of the devices.
The copycats first came to light in January, when a reporter from the news site Mashable discovered one being displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
One Hong Kong-based intellectual property lawyer, who has worked for Apple in the past, said the US company had ways to block the sale of smartwatches that had copied its designs, but added that doing so could be expensive and time consuming.
Cheap 'Apple Watch' copies on sale via Alibaba site
Cheap 'Apple Watch' copies on sale via Alibaba site
Taobao's owner said it did, however, remove deceptive ads.
In light of this, Mr Forney said that the e-commerce giant was expected to crack down on listings that might give consumers genuine cause to feel they had been deceived.
Apple could not be reached for comment.
"Alibaba faces heightened scrutiny by its regulator for fakes sold within China," he said.
Iowa Senator ‘Good Fodder’ for Political Comedians: Political Strategist
The new law prohibits the public from discovering who holds permits to carry guns; allows children younger than 14 to possess handguns with adult supervision; removes a buffer period for a suicidal person seeking a gun; and eliminates a cooling period for an abuser seeking to harm a person in a domestic violence scenario amidst other changes.
The Apple Watch's user interface, seen on the left, appears to have been directly copied by the AW08, pictured on the right
One ad for an "Apple iWatch" initially suggests the product will be available for shipping within 15 days - ahead of the Apple Watch's release.
One listing, which was highlighted by the Financial Times, even used the slogan: "Knockoff Apple watches have hit the market!"
Confusingly, some listings on Taobao that appear to advertise copycats may in fact represent the genuine article.
“If that is eliminated, prohibited purchasers — including convicted felons, the dangerously mentally ill, and those under restraining orders — would be able to acquire handguns through private sales without having to undergo any background check or screening,” Everitt said.
"We also utilise technology like data mining and big data to scrub our platforms of counterfeits."
The listing for this AW08 watch states that it runs on the Android operating system
This listing for the AW08 Watch suggests it will work with both Xiaomi's Android handsets as well as Apple's iPhones
