Originally Posted by
TimothyH
In the free market knockoffs are theft and the reason they exist is because of thieves. Those who do it need to go to prison.
You can design and produce your own Lexus IS300 but in so doing you are stealing from Lexus. You can photocopy a book I've written and sell it online but in so doing you are stealing from me. And you can create a jersey with a copyrighted design on it but you have stolen the design from its owner. The cost of the original doesn't justify stealing.
You can support such activities but in so doing you are supporting criminals, many of whom do far worse things than counterfeiting and patent theft. If you knowingly buy a counterfeit then you are a thief.
-Tim-
Bah. Chinese knockoffs are one of the natural predators for big brand name companies when it comes to companies making money on nothing other than a 'name.' If they marketed and sold based on value and return for cost, it wouldn't be an issue for them. Knockoffs are invaluable in thinning the herd, so to speak.
Fair play IMO.