I gather that's an open question, at least based on what little info I've come across. Note the discussion of uncertainty around whether there was legal action by Suntour against Rino, or perhaps a licensing agreement, on the Disraeligears site: Rino derailleurs

I've come across similar uncertainty in forum discussions relating to the connection between Cambio Rino and Joe Gardin in Toronto (their NA importer, for a time, though that relationship apparently soured).

In any case, certainly a direct copy made while Suntour's patent remained in effect.