Xiaomi's Hugo Barra rebuffs Ive's assertion of 'design theft'

This past summer, Xiaomi executive Hugo Barra (formerly of Google) said that he's "sick and tired" of hearing allegations that Xiaomi products are blatant rip-offs of Apple designs. That being the case, perhaps Xiaomi should stop releasing products that are eerily reminiscent — in innumerable ways — of established Apple devices.

Most recently, Apple's Jony Ive was asked what he thought about Xiaomi's product designs. Ive, in his response, did not pull any punches:

There is a danger...I don't see it as flattery. I see it as theft. (Talking about copying designs in general). When you're doing something for the first time and you don't know it's going to work. I have to be honest the last thing I think is "Oh, that is flattering. All those weekends I could've been home with my family...I think it's theft and lazy. I don't think it's OK at all."

When asked about Ive's comments during a recent interview with The Economic Times, Barra was quick to dismiss the accusations as baseless.

I need to see the context of the comment to reply, but I think that there is an unnecessarily strong spotlight on us. If you make a comment about the chamfer on the Mi 4 on which is where all the controversy comes from, it's the same. If you look at the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 has been using the design language that has been around for a while. The iPhone 6 is using design language that HTC has had for 5 years. You cannot claim full ownership of any kind of design languages in our industry.

Most importantly, designers have to be passionate, they have to be emotional, that's where their creativity comes form. I would expect Jony to be even more aggressive than he was in answering this question. Jony is one of the classiest people in the industry. I would bet you anything that he did not say the word Xiaomi in his answer. He is speaking generally about how he feels which is what I would expect from any world-class designer.

Barra can sing and dance around copying allegations all he wants, but the evidence is overwhelming.

Below are a few examples:

The Xiaomi Mi Pad seems to have the exact same pastel color lineup as the iPhone 5c.

And oh yes, let's not forget about Xiaomi's software.

And in a bizarrely damning example of Xiaomi looking to Apple for "inspiration," check out this promotional shot for the Xiaomi Mi 3.

If you look close enough, you'll note that the camera lens used in the product's marketing materials is actually Apple's Aperture icon.