diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanAccess.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanAccess.java
index b9ebf7007..0af135817 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanAccess.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanAccess.java
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ public interface BeanAccess {
    */
   GenericProperty<?> getProperty(String name);
 
+  /**
+   * @return the {@link Class} reflecting the owning {@link Bean}.
+   */
+  Class<? extends Bean> getBeanClass();
+
   /**
    * @param name the {@link GenericProperty#getName() name} of the requested property.
    * @return the requested {@link GenericProperty}.
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@ default GenericProperty<?> getRequiredProperty(String name) throws PojoPropertyN
 
     GenericProperty<?> property = getProperty(name);
     if (property == null) {
-      throw new PojoPropertyNotFoundException(getClass(), name);
+      throw new PojoPropertyNotFoundException(getBeanClass(), name);
     }
     return property;
   }
@@ -158,8 +163,8 @@ default <V> void setPropertyValue(String name, V value, GenericType<V> type) {
   boolean isDynamic();
 
   /**
-   * @return <code>true</code> if this {@link BeanAccess} belongs to a {@link BeanFactory#createPrototype(Class) prototype}
-   *         , <code>false</code> otherwise (if it belongs to an {@link BeanFactory#create(Bean) instance}).
+   * @return <code>true</code> if this {@link BeanAccess} belongs to a {@link BeanFactory#createPrototype(Class)
+   *         prototype} , <code>false</code> otherwise (if it belongs to an {@link BeanFactory#create(Bean) instance}).
    */
   boolean isPrototype();
 
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanFactory.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanFactory.java
index 12fa586a9..8dd7a5231 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanFactory.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/api/BeanFactory.java
@@ -73,4 +73,14 @@ default <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN create(Class<BEAN> type) {
    */
   <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN getReadOnlyBean(BEAN bean);
 
+  /**
+   * Creates a copy of the given {@link Bean}.
+   *
+   * @param <BEAN> the generic type of the {@link Bean}.
+   * @param bean the bean to make {@link BeanAccess#isReadOnly() read-only}.
+   * @return the {@link BeanAccess#isReadOnly() read-only} view on the given bean. Will be the given instance if already
+   *         {@link BeanAccess#isReadOnly() read-only}.
+   */
+  <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN copy(BEAN bean);
+
 }
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessBase.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessBase.java
index 586458cdb..0584c8147 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessBase.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessBase.java
@@ -20,28 +20,26 @@
 public abstract class BeanAccessBase<BEAN extends Bean>
     implements InvocationHandler, BeanAccess, Iterable<GenericProperty<?>> {
 
-  private final Class<BEAN> beanType;
+  private final Class<BEAN> beanClass;
 
   private final BEAN bean;
 
   /**
    * The constructor.
    *
-   * @param beanType - see {@link #getBeanType()}.
+   * @param beanClass - see {@link #getBeanClass()}.
    * @param beanFactory the owning {@link BeanFactoryImpl}.
    */
-  public BeanAccessBase(Class<BEAN> beanType, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory) {
+  public BeanAccessBase(Class<BEAN> beanClass, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory) {
     super();
-    this.beanType = beanType;
-    this.bean = beanFactory.createProxy(this, beanType);
+    this.beanClass = beanClass;
+    this.bean = beanFactory.createProxy(this, beanClass);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * @return the {@link Class} reflecting the {@link #getBean() bean}.
-   */
-  public Class<BEAN> getBeanType() {
+  @Override
+  public Class<BEAN> getBeanClass() {
 
-    return this.beanType;
+    return this.beanClass;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -68,7 +66,7 @@ public GenericProperty<?> getProperty(String name) {
 
     BeanPrototypeProperty prototypeProperty = getPrototype().getName2PropertyMap().get(name);
     if (prototypeProperty != null) {
-      return getProperty(prototypeProperty, false);
+      return getProperty(prototypeProperty, true);
     }
     return null;
   }
@@ -77,11 +75,11 @@ public GenericProperty<?> getProperty(String name) {
    * Gets the {@link GenericProperty} for the given <code>index</code>.
    *
    * @param prototypeProperty is the {@link BeanPrototypeProperty}.
-   * @param required - <code>true</code> if the property is required and shall be created if it {@link #isDynamic() does
+   * @param create - <code>true</code> if the property is required and shall be created if it {@link #isDynamic() does
    *        not already exist}, <code>false</code> otherwise.
    * @return the requested {@link GenericProperty}. May be <code>null</code>.
    */
-  protected abstract GenericProperty<?> getProperty(BeanPrototypeProperty prototypeProperty, boolean required);
+  protected abstract GenericProperty<?> getProperty(BeanPrototypeProperty prototypeProperty, boolean create);
 
   @Override
   public boolean isReadOnly() {
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessInstance.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessInstance.java
index 5a3a68a8b..c0c6d68bf 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessInstance.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessInstance.java
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ public abstract class BeanAccessInstance<BEAN extends Bean> extends BeanAccessBa
   /**
    * The constructor.
    *
-   * @param beanType - see {@link #getBeanType()}.
+   * @param beanClass - see {@link #getBeanClass()}.
    * @param beanFactory the owning {@link BeanFactoryImpl}.
    * @param prototype the {@link BeanAccessPrototype}.
    */
-  public BeanAccessInstance(Class<BEAN> beanType, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory,
+  public BeanAccessInstance(Class<BEAN> beanClass, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory,
       BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> prototype) {
 
-    super(beanType, beanFactory);
+    super(beanClass, beanFactory);
     this.prototype = prototype;
     this.properties = GenericProperty.NO_PROPERTIES;
   }
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessMutable.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessMutable.java
index fed8134a5..f7ff77501 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessMutable.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessMutable.java
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ public class BeanAccessMutable<BEAN extends Bean> extends BeanAccessInstance<BEA
   /**
    * The constructor.
    *
-   * @param beanType - see {@link #getBeanType()}.
+   * @param beanClass - see {@link #getBeanClass()}.
    * @param beanFactory the owning {@link BeanFactoryImpl}.
    * @param prototype the {@link BeanAccessPrototype}.
    */
-  public BeanAccessMutable(Class<BEAN> beanType, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory,
+  public BeanAccessMutable(Class<BEAN> beanClass, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory,
       BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> prototype) {
 
-    super(beanType, beanFactory, prototype);
+    super(beanClass, beanFactory, prototype);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessPrototype.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessPrototype.java
index 1c9d42ff4..f83d1c543 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessPrototype.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessPrototype.java
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ public class BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN extends Bean> extends BeanAccessBase<BEAN>
   /**
    * The constructor.
    *
-   * @param beanType - see {@link #getBeanType()}.
+   * @param beanClass - see {@link #getBeanClass()}.
    * @param beanFactory the owning {@link BeanFactoryImpl}.
    */
-  public BeanAccessPrototype(Class<BEAN> beanType, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory) {
-    super(beanType, beanFactory);
-    this.beanType = beanType;
+  public BeanAccessPrototype(Class<BEAN> beanClass, BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory) {
+    super(beanClass, beanFactory);
+    this.beanType = beanClass;
     this.name2PropertyMap = new HashMap<>();
     this.method2OperationMap = new HashMap<>();
     this.dynamic = false;
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ protected void addProperty(GenericPropertyImpl<?> property) {
    * @return the type
    */
   @Override
-  public Class<BEAN> getBeanType() {
+  public Class<BEAN> getBeanClass() {
 
     return this.beanType;
   }
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessReadOnly.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessReadOnly.java
index 56261af74..ca5362ab9 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessReadOnly.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanAccessReadOnly.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public class BeanAccessReadOnly<BEAN extends Bean> extends BeanAccessInstance<BE
    */
   public BeanAccessReadOnly(BeanFactoryImpl beanFactory, BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> prototype,
       BeanAccessBase<BEAN> delegate) {
-    super(prototype.getBeanType(), beanFactory, prototype);
+    super(prototype.getBeanClass(), beanFactory, prototype);
     this.delegate = delegate;
   }
 
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImpl.java b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImpl.java
index 335223cdf..d97fabf69 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImpl.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImpl.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import javafx.beans.property.Property;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.Bean;
+import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.BeanAccess;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.BeanFactory;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.component.base.AbstractLoggableComponent;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.property.api.GenericProperty;
@@ -115,6 +116,51 @@ <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN createProxy(BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access, Class<BEAN> be
     return bean;
   }
 
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+  @Override
+  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN create(BEAN bean) {
+
+    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) bean.access();
+    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
+    BeanAccessMutable<BEAN> interceptor = new BeanAccessMutable<>(access.getBeanClass(), this, beanPrototype);
+    return interceptor.getBean();
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+  @Override
+  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN getReadOnlyBean(BEAN bean) {
+
+    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) bean.access();
+    if (access.isReadOnly()) {
+      return bean;
+    }
+    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
+    BeanAccessReadOnly<BEAN> interceptor = new BeanAccessReadOnly<>(this, beanPrototype, access);
+    return interceptor.getBean();
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+  @Override
+  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN getPrototype(BEAN bean) {
+
+    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) bean.access();
+    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
+    return beanPrototype.getBean();
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings({ "rawtypes", "unchecked" })
+  @Override
+  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN copy(BEAN bean) {
+
+    BEAN copy = create(bean);
+    BeanAccess access = copy.access();
+    for (GenericProperty<?> property : bean.access().getProperties()) {
+      GenericProperty copyProperty = access.getRequiredProperty(property.getName());
+      copyProperty.setValue(property.getValue());
+    }
+    return copy;
+  }
+
   @Override
   public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN createPrototype(Class<BEAN> type, boolean dynamic) {
 
@@ -345,36 +391,4 @@ private GenericPropertyImpl<?> createPropertyFromSpecifiedClass(String name, Gen
     }
   }
 
-  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  @Override
-  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN create(BEAN prototype) {
-
-    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) prototype.access();
-    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
-    BeanAccessMutable<BEAN> interceptor = new BeanAccessMutable<>(access.getBeanType(), this, beanPrototype);
-    return interceptor.getBean();
-  }
-
-  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  @Override
-  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN getReadOnlyBean(BEAN beanProxy) {
-
-    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) beanProxy.access();
-    if (access.isReadOnly()) {
-      return beanProxy;
-    }
-    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
-    BeanAccessReadOnly<BEAN> interceptor = new BeanAccessReadOnly<>(this, beanPrototype, access);
-    return interceptor.getBean();
-  }
-
-  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  @Override
-  public <BEAN extends Bean> BEAN getPrototype(BEAN bean) {
-
-    BeanAccessBase<BEAN> access = (BeanAccessBase<BEAN>) bean.access();
-    BeanAccessPrototype<BEAN> beanPrototype = access.getPrototype();
-    return beanPrototype.getBean();
-  }
-
 }
diff --git a/mmm-util-property/src/test/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImplTest.java b/mmm-util-property/src/test/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImplTest.java
index 2d83dc659..202cbb4ed 100644
--- a/mmm-util-property/src/test/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImplTest.java
+++ b/mmm-util-property/src/test/java/net/sf/mmm/util/bean/impl/BeanFactoryImplTest.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
 
+import net.sf.mmm.test.ObjectHelper;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.Bean;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.BeanAccess;
 import net.sf.mmm.util.bean.api.BeanFactory;
@@ -47,8 +48,8 @@ public void testExamplePropertyBean() {
 
     BeanFactory beanFactory = getBeanFactory();
     ExamplePropertyBean bean = beanFactory.create(ExamplePropertyBean.class);
-    verifyBean(bean);
-    verifyExamplePropertyBean(bean);
+    verifyBean(bean, beanFactory);
+    verifyExamplePropertyBean(bean, beanFactory);
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ public void testExamplePojoBean() {
 
     BeanFactory beanFactory = getBeanFactory();
     ExamplePojoBean bean = beanFactory.create(ExamplePojoBean.class);
-    verifyBean(bean);
+    verifyBean(bean, beanFactory);
     verifyExamplePojoBean(bean);
   }
 
@@ -65,19 +66,19 @@ public void testExampleBean() {
 
     BeanFactory beanFactory = getBeanFactory();
     ExampleBean bean = beanFactory.create(ExampleBean.class);
-    verifyBean(bean);
+    verifyBean(bean, beanFactory);
     verifyExamplePojoBean(bean);
-    verifyExamplePropertyBean(bean);
+    verifyExamplePropertyBean(bean, beanFactory);
 
     assertThat(bean.self()).isSameAs(bean);
     assertThat(bean.sayHi("Peter")).isEqualTo("Hi Peter");
   }
 
-  private void verifyBean(Bean bean) {
+  private void verifyBean(Bean bean, BeanFactory beanFactory) {
 
     BeanAccess access = bean.access();
     assertThat(access).isNotNull();
-    assertThat(((BeanAccessBase) access).getBean()).isSameAs(bean);
+    assertThat(((BeanAccessBase<?>) access).getBean()).isSameAs(bean);
     String undefinedProperty = "UndefinedProperty";
     assertThat(access.getProperty(undefinedProperty)).isNull();
     PojoPropertyNotFoundException error = null;
@@ -93,9 +94,12 @@ private void verifyBean(Bean bean) {
           .isSameAs(access.getRequiredProperty(name))
           .isSameAs(access.getOrCreateProperty(name, property.getType()));
     }
+
+    // test equals
+    ObjectHelper.checkEqualsAndHashCode(bean, beanFactory.copy(bean), true);
   }
 
-  private void verifyExamplePropertyBean(ExamplePropertyBean bean) {
+  private void verifyExamplePropertyBean(ExamplePropertyBean bean, BeanFactory beanFactory) {
 
     assertThat(bean).isNotNull();
     assertThat(bean.Name()).isInstanceOf(StringPropertyImpl.class);
@@ -169,6 +173,11 @@ private void verifyExamplePropertyBean(ExamplePropertyBean bean) {
     } catch (Exception e) {
       fail("Failed to parse bean.toString() as JSON: " + json, e);
     }
+
+    // equals and hashCode
+    ExamplePropertyBean copy = beanFactory.copy(bean);
+    copy.Name().setValue("Heinz");
+    ObjectHelper.checkEqualsAndHashCode(bean, copy, false);
   }
 
   private void verifyExamplePojoBean(ExamplePojoBean bean) {
diff --git a/mmm-util-test/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/test/TestUser.java b/mmm-util-test/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/test/TestUser.java
index a95a61890..724385bca 100644
--- a/mmm-util-test/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/test/TestUser.java
+++ b/mmm-util-test/src/main/java/net/sf/mmm/test/TestUser.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
  * This is a simple user for testing. It acts as {@link java.security.Principal} and {@link Authentication}.
  *
  * @author Joerg Hohwiller (hohwille at users.sourceforge.net)
- * @since 0
  */
 public class TestUser implements Authentication {