Disneyland in China (from Dis News) About This Page:

[alismom]

ran accross this article today. Wow blatant rip off.

From Disney World - The Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Disney World, Walt Disney World

Japan Probe - Did I say Disneyland? I meant Shijingshan Amusement Park, an amusement park in Beijing that has absolutely nothing to do with Disney. Japanese bloggers seem to have recently discovered the existence of this park and have posted pictures of some of its characters on Japan Probe

With its slogan “Disneyland is too far,” Beijing’s Shijingshan Amusement Park features a replica of Cinderella’s Castle, with staff dressed like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and other Disney characters.

None of this is authorized by Disney - but that has not stopped the state-owned park from creating its own counterfeit version of the Magic Kingdom in a brazen example of the sort of open and widespread copyright piracy that has Washington fuming.

The United States announced Monday it would file a case at the World Trade Organization over rampant copyright piracy in China, a practice which US companies say deprives them of billions of dollars each year.

But 31-year-old housewife Zhang Li betrays a typical Chinese attitude on the issue while chasing her young son around the park.

“I don’t understand why that is such a big problem. Shouldn’t others be able to use those characters besides [Disney]?” she asks.

No, no, lady. You’ve got it all wrong. They aren’t using Disney characters. It’s a big-eared cat, not a mouse. Come on!

The President of the park, who is interviewed in the video, tells them that nothing is copied from Disney and that all the characters are original creations (He also says the line about Mickey rip-off = big-eared cat). However, a little girl they encounter tells them that she sees Disney characters, and even the people inside the character costumes admit that they’re based on Disney’s creations. Whoops!

Here's the pictures. Disneyland in China? » Japan Probe

Thoughts?

[jhoshowski]

I am speechless. That's not Minnie, Pooh, or Donald? Hmmmm. . .time for another trip to the eye doctor, I guess!

[bradk]

yes, and on that token, there used to be a theme park in japan called dreamland that remarkably ripped off disneyland

Nara Dreamland

make sure you watch the videos on that china one though. i love how they freely take their heads off. one character is interviewed in plain sight with her head tilted off.

[akleos]

Those pictures, or should I say characters, are just bizarre. I guess they don't understand the concept of "copyright", those crazy communists!!

[Bman]

Originally Posted by akleos

Those pictures, or should I say characters, are just bizarre. I guess they don't understand the concept of "copyright", those crazy communists!!

China isn't exactly communist anymore. I go there on business from time to time and they're all about making money these days. Of course the state still owns a lot of things, but there is private enterprise and a fair amount of foriegn businesses about. My jaw dropped the first time that I saw a Wal-Mart in China.

Also, this denial that they're blatently ripping off Disney is not an uncommon mode of thought in China. I've learned that if they believe something is true (or not) no amount of logic and proof can get them to admit otherwise. They'll simply ignore any proof that you put in front of them and tell you that you're wrong. It's uncanny. I'm sure that there are exceptions to that rule but in my experience, it is a rule.

-B

[akleos]

Originally Posted by Bman

China isn't exactly communist anymore. -B

Yeah - I know... I was just trying to be funny.

[Bman]

Originally Posted by akleos

Yeah - I know... I was just trying to be funny.

Sorry, I should have caught that. There are so many people that don't realize the economic changes that have happened in China that I forget that a lot of people *do* know what goes on in the world.

On a seperate note: while riding out to the airport in Hong Kong, I saw a sign pointing the way to Hong Kong Disneyland. I was so ticked off at myself for not thinking about visiting Hong Kong DL the previous day! I swear, if I hadn't had a can't-miss meeting that day in a different city in China, I would have told the cab driver to take me to DL. I may be going back this summer and if I do, you'd better believe that I *will* make it to HK DL.

-B

[Stephanie <33]

Wow. The Nara Dreamland one did look quite similar to DisneyLand, but it was sooo dirty! I mean, EW! And what was up with that slide made of wood?!?! Ow!

The Shijingshan Amusement Park's Donald Duck sure did get skinnier. He doesn't look as cute when he's thin. And the 7 dwarfs' faces looked squished! I know they say they aren't copying Disney, and everyone know's it's totally false, but you'd think they wouldn't make the characters look gross!!

[Stripes]

Kinda hard to argue that Pooh isn't Pooh when its written right on his shirt. Go get 'em Disney!!

[Ginnifer]

guess my glasses are dirty cause those sure did resemble disney characters to me...all be it they were a tad creepy

[Disneybine]

I looked at their website and they even have the Epcot golfball (Spaceship Earth) for crying out loud!

[Dave Marx]

You know what they say, "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..." (especially when that duck is wearing a blue jacket and white sailor hat).

[revral]

In the pictures I scrolled through I saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pooh, Tigger, Snow White, the 7 Dwarves, and Shrek. I agree with

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

You know what they say, "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..." (especially when that duck is wearing a blue jacket and white sailor hat).

.

[Ms_Butterfly]

Very creepy!!

[bsblady01]

very weird why would they want to copy off disney.