Fakes? Knock-offs? I think that's a matter of opinion. All the Vtube components are standard, off-the-shelf parts. Is the form factor (meaning the size, design, and appearance of the device) bonafide intellectual property? I don't know, but that's an issue for Chinese courts to decide. After all, this is capitalism: Bring a product to market, and other companies will follow suit in competition, whether legal or not. I mean, think Betamax vs. VHS, Coke vs. Pepsi (and every other cola), Chevy/Ford vs. Honda/Toyota (and now Hyundai/Kia). It's all about building a less expensive and hopefully better mousetrap.
Case in point: The original eGo was manufactured by JoyeTech, but it had the built-in limitation of being regulated to 3.3 volts. Numerous other manufacturers duplicated the eGo form factor. Some improved on the original. Do we regard the far superior kGo batteries as fakes or knock-offs? No, we call them eGo-clones.
In the same way, the original Lavatube (v1.0) was manufactured by L-Rider, which has since come out with a cosmetic revision (chrome plating) for what it calls v.2.0. Both versions have the built-in limitation of a 2.5 amp limit (and the invisible voltage drop that aggravated so many users) and no resistance checking. Yes, those units are stable and dependable, but their performance disappointed some users.
The new versions called v1.5 and v1.5t from Uniq/Young June offer a higher amp limit (roughly 3 amps, with an unusually creative implementation of pulse width modulation that gives a more powerful vape) plus single-click resistance checking. The v1.5t also has sleeker all-metal end caps and a flush 510 connection. Yes, the first production run of the v1.5 had a serious flaw (one of the three chips could short and cause a meltdown, which did happen at least once that we know of), but---according to Young June---that design error has been fixed in subsequent production runs of the v1.5 and v1.5t. There's also a power-down glitch that results in "zombie low-voltage mode," but that glitch hasn't produced any outcry from users. So, in my view, it's a trade-off. The Young June Vtubes have a minor flaw (the power-down glitch) in exchange for improved functionality (resistance checking) and better performance (more power and no stealth voltage drop).
Young June is now coming out with their v2.0, which has chrome plating, the eGo-style 510 connector with the spring-loaded positive pin, and a 4-amp limit. L-Rider should soon follow with their v3.0, but I don't know the specs for that version. Presumably, it will include a higher amp limit and resistance checking.
Basically, you pay your money, you take your choice. Personally, I feel no particular allegiance to L-Rider, and I like the resistance checking and better performance of the Young June v1.5t. I also have a chrome v2.0 on the way soon from CrystalClearVaping as a replacement/exchange for the v1.5 I bought from them. Other people may prefer to wait and see how L-Rider responds to the challenge of what I regard as stiff competition.
By the way, all L-Rider Vtubes have a red power button, whereas the power button on the Young June models is the same color as the body.
