What is it with digital cameras being the same but made by different companys?

Konica/Minolta are the same campany. see konicaminolta.net. Kyocera / Yashica / Contax are all the same company.

Trust PowerCam 770Z LCD Zoom is the same as Minolta Dimage E223

is the Trust 735S PowerC@m Zoom the same as the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-U30?

Also, the CASIO EX-S2 is the same as the AGFA SP2 (they added a 'P' to fool you!) is the same as the Oregon Scientific DS6638, is the same as the CHE-EZ D'Zign.

The Praktica DCZ 3.2S is the same as the Trust Powercam 750 just ever so slightly different. (an older version made by hitachi link) also same as vivitar 3695.

The Trust Powercam 760 is the same as the Konica KD-25 both 2MP, except the Trust emphasises the fact that it can interpolate to 3MP... same as BENQ DC2300. same as Praktica DC 22. same as Samsung Digimax 201 Chuffin nora! What is the point in that?!?!

centon 5MP link same as BENQ C50 link.

Vivitar V3740 is the same as the Trust Powercam 913

Konica KD 220 link same as vivitar 3675.

Jenoptik / Digital Dream / "Shotz" / Concord Also seem to "share" cameras. (eg Jenoptik JD 5200 x3 5MP is the same as Concord Eye Q 5330 zoom)

So, what's the advice? make sure you get Canon, Fuji, Olympus, Nikon, Pentax, (Sony?) to make sure you're getting a "real" digital camera and not just some rebadged OEM / Chinese "digital camera".