A few things in the Krypt explain how they came up with Li Mei. She wasn't intended to be a Mileena rip off, or even inspired by her. The concept was a conemporary female mixed with kung fu. In fact they actually mention that the idea was to make something other than the female ninjas they had in the past games.

I think any similarities between her and Mileena are just a coincidence.

Look, I know the fighting styles aren't set in stone. I know early MKDA pics and trailers showed characters with fighting styles that ended up being changed. The point it, this is what they've decided to show us. When a new character has as many similarities to an old character as Li Mei does to Mileena, there are bound to be people yelling "rip-off!" IMO, it's a REALLY bad idea on Midway's part to suggest, even if it is only in a beta version, another similarity, no matter which one is stealing an attribute of the other.

whats the deal with the whole rip off thing?

they play nothing alike..they dont even look alike. just because they wear simular colors (maybe the same, but who cares) and have the same weapon doesnt make her a rip off. you know, in real martial arts (which was the main focus of mkda) its not exactly unheard of for people to use the same weapon.

now, if she was a rip off, she would have mileenas sai toss, roll, and drop kick moves...but, she doesnt. shes nowhere near a rip off.