Community Chat

[shoekitty]

I have always considered counterfeits and knock-offs' wrong and shameful. I feel it's stealing, as well as encouraging crime, and illegal trade.    But it is also linked to worker slavery .  I have never wanted anything badly enough to do this, but that's me. I know what it is like to have someone steal your art or work for profit.  I found this message below in quotes that was sent out by anti silvery charity foundation Princess Eugene used to represent. I found it true. What do you think?

"Behind the low priced knockoffs lies a much darker system of forced labour and exploitation that underpins counterfeit operations and funds organised crime. ⁠Sarah Woodcock , CEO of The Anti-Slavery Collective , sat down with Sky News to talk about the hidden human cost that is driven by counterfeit sales,” they added. “Thank you to our partners the ACG "

[Kachina624]

@shoekitty.  I can't figure out what you're talking about.  Did you forget to add something?

[shoekitty]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@shoekitty.  I can't figure out what you're talking about.  Did you forget to add something?

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@Kachina624   I did indeed. Just call me Emily Latilla lol. I couldn't get the post from the anti slavery charity to paste. But, I just got it to now.  I am talking about people buying knock offs and counterfeits.  how doing this supports actual criminal groups all over the world.  

[Desertdi]

Counterfeits are illegal.    On the other hand, "copies" are on the assembly line within minutes of the Paris and Milan shows...

[Cats3000]

Slow down.  Breathe.  You've got too much time on your hands.

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

"Knockoffs", in most cases, are not illegal. 

Counterfeits are illegal.

Almost everything in fashion is a knockoff to some degree.  The illegality is the attempt to present the product as the original brand.  A counterfeit presents itself as the famous brandname;  a knockoff can appear similar, but doesn't claim to pass for real.

I have no issue with knockoffs so long as no deception is involved, like using a brand logo or trademark illegally. 

[We rescue cats]

It is theft no matter what one chooses to call it. 

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

Counterfeits present themselves as real (as in counterfeit currency.)

Dupes/Knockoffs do not.  That's the legal distinction:  presenting the item as genuine.

If a Dupe does not imitate or reproduce a brandname,  logo or trademark it is almost never illegal, unless the owner of the "genuine" can present evidence of patent or trademark violation,  which is possible,  but not easy.

[Still Raining]

You do hear about some firms that mandate conditions at their factories.  And inspect.

Does QVC?  

[Caaareful Shopper]

@We rescue cats 

Tiffany has the iconic HardWear design jewelry:

Their design has dupes by everyone and everywhere, including QVC:

How many brands have copied the Cartier Love bracelets below?  You see dupes absolutely everywhere.  As long as they don't stamp Cartier on it, it's perfectly legal.