The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word EMULATING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result EMULATING
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Copying" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case copying = emulating.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EMULATING mean?
EMULATING verb- To attempt to equal or be the same as.
- To copy or imitate, especially a person.
- To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.
- Of a program or device: to imitate another program or device