Why are there so many copycats of apple mac mini design and appearance on Amazon?

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

It's not just the Mini. Others including US makers have imitated the look of recent iMacs and Mac notebooks as well. The museum where I volunteer just got a new HP desktop computer that is configured to look like an iMac. Apple defends their intellectual property (IP) rights fiercely; if they thought there was a problem, they'd be all over it.

If you need to communicate a copycat/knockoff concern to Apple, there is an easy way to report it:

Apple - Legal - Counterfeit Questions

BTW, neither Apple, Amazon, nor Customs are represented here. You are addressing others end users with no special knowledge of Apple's internal processes for IP management, and Apple won't respond here. Use the link I provided.

supply and demand really

"you would think that they could come up with something that isn’t identical and a copycat."

not if there is a bigger revenue in doing what they do now, many products are created every day on earth and much is garbage and it's rare that the manufactorers truely take pride in what they do.

"Disney would try to protect their material from knock offs. What about customs? They confiscated millions of illegal products that are trying to flood the market when they enter the US."

their lawyers likely feel that they would not win the cases, also your countries customs can only do anything if apple already won a lawsuit again that product in question and they would have to take each product to court, and they would have to do so in every country they would wish it stopped in (this is why when apple lost the suit about the blood oxegen sutff it was only in usa that they had to block the feature)

"Why are there so many copycats of apple mac mini design and appearance on Amazon?: I just noticed Amazon has dozens of computers running windows that look identical and even have similar features to a mac mini. [...] What about customs? They confiscated millions of illegal products that are trying to flood the market when they enter the US"

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Reporting these Potentials Scams:

If it's too good of a deal, then it likely is. If you think something you've purchased on Amazon is fraudulent, then report it to Amazon. As for reporting scammers out there on the Web, when it comes to the Internet and eMails, you can report these to Apple, and to your federal government. In the US, you can report victimization and potential emails and text messages. Use my User Tip: Using the Photos App to Report Scams: - Apple Community

If you are concerned about purchasing a cheap knock-off from Amazon or an unscrupulous seller..?

Then your best bet is to purchase a Mac mini directly from Apple on-line or your local Apple Store.

Buy Mac mini - Apple

Find Locations

Amazon (and many other dealers) sell genuine M4 minis with an 11 - 12% discount (UK) but as you say there are a number of Windows machines that look vaguely similar.

However, a person would need to be very stupid to confuse the two.

It's like cars, they are all 4 wheels and a box but most folk can differentiate.

Or have you seen something I haven't that is deliberately trying to scam? Post a URL.

Are these the types of item you are referring to?

Speaking of imitations … it’s not just the hardware.

Ever seen a Microsoft Store ?

They’re total “knock-offs” of the entire Apple Store design aesthetic. (at least the last time I walked-by one)

Hello~ Well…there you go as *Allan Jones* pointed out “They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” Couldn’t be any closer …could it?

~Katana-San~

Yes indeed.

Right down to the lighting, arrangement of the nearly identical wooden display tables, and the networked “Greeter / Traffic Director” at the entrance.

Hello~ To be quite honest your question should be directed to Amazon or customs. I am sure that Apple does not want those items on the market.

~Katana-San~