Gents,
I don't know if you have been subjected to this guy (http://myworld.ebay.com.au/model-in/) on Ebay. Just thought I would highlight my message to Ebay.
"Hi,
This guy is blatantly selling copies of other manufacturers figures. I believe that he is in breach of international copyright laws and that Ebay has a moral and ethical responsibility to remove all of his listings.
I find his continual theft of other individuals work to be offensive.
PG"
As much as I hate paying a premium for quality figures, this sort of blatant theft needs to have the guts stomped out of it.
Your thoughts?
Paul
Figures
Military figures of all shapes and sizes.
Military figures of all shapes and sizes.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
Ebay ripoff artist
Gorillagan
Joined: January 16, 2006
KitMaker: 8 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 01:10 AM UTC
jba
Joined: November 04, 2005
KitMaker: 1,845 posts
Armorama: 777 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 01:22 AM UTC
nice jump on the bandwagon Paul, your move is guaranteed to be appreciated here. In the meantime you certainly do some publicity for the guy by giving the link 
HONEYCUT
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 02:14 AM UTC
Quoted Text
In the meantime you certainly do some publicity for the guy by giving the link
That said Jean-Bernard, I think it will help for people to view a dodgy merchants wares with this 'newfound' knowledge that what they are viewing are rip-offs and not originals. Some people still have not put two and two together, but hopefully should now treat this (and similar) sellers with contempt...
Brad
jba
Joined: November 04, 2005
KitMaker: 1,845 posts
Armorama: 777 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 02:33 AM UTC
hmm sure you're right there Brad, but i still have the nagging feeling that those figs being bought fraudulently are actually getting used in dioramas, dioramas that are ending up in forums like those ones; look at the amount of positive feedback the guy got from people who obviously speak the Anglo saxon as a native language!
Honestly i didn't know there were people counterfeiting figs before I saw some explosive threads here, and I somewhat think that some people who fall on those threads will just look at the address -then at the positive feedback the guy got and will reach to their credit card without thinking twice. I hope I am wrong but hmmmm..
the are on me 
Honestly i didn't know there were people counterfeiting figs before I saw some explosive threads here, and I somewhat think that some people who fall on those threads will just look at the address -then at the positive feedback the guy got and will reach to their credit card without thinking twice. I hope I am wrong but hmmmm..
the
are on me 
Bratushka
Joined: May 09, 2008
KitMaker: 1,019 posts
Armorama: 657 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:06 AM UTC
Do you think the seller is actually doing the counterfeiting? Or do you suppose he/she might be middle manning without knowing it? Either way doesn't make it right, but either way eBay should remove his questionable listings.
I am not familiar enough with military figure miniatures to be able to ID any of what he's selling as being a duplicate of someone else's work. It would seem to get eBay to actually DO something about him you would have to match several of the items to the original and provide a link to it in any complaint to them. I imagine eBay hears all manner of complaints and many are poorly presented and aren't supported by more than angry diatribes and passionate pleas. Have you tried sending them supporting evidence?
I'm in agreement with you about the need to cancel his eBay account if those things are rip-offs. Someone needs to prove it, irrefutably so, to eBay.
I am not familiar enough with military figure miniatures to be able to ID any of what he's selling as being a duplicate of someone else's work. It would seem to get eBay to actually DO something about him you would have to match several of the items to the original and provide a link to it in any complaint to them. I imagine eBay hears all manner of complaints and many are poorly presented and aren't supported by more than angry diatribes and passionate pleas. Have you tried sending them supporting evidence?
I'm in agreement with you about the need to cancel his eBay account if those things are rip-offs. Someone needs to prove it, irrefutably so, to eBay.
muddyfields
Joined: February 04, 2006
KitMaker: 884 posts
Armorama: 622 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:32 AM UTC
Hi
I buy a lot of my kits off ebay & yes I have seen this site & yes I have been tempted but so far have never bought from him. I bought a couple of items from the far east a few years ago that another seller said he hadn't got the boxes for, upon arrival it was obvious why . they were copies so obviously no boxes, now aday's I'm a little more careful whom I buy from.
But as I have only a limited budget these guy's are becoming more & more tempting.
He's certainly selling plenty.
I buy a lot of my kits off ebay & yes I have seen this site & yes I have been tempted but so far have never bought from him. I bought a couple of items from the far east a few years ago that another seller said he hadn't got the boxes for, upon arrival it was obvious why . they were copies so obviously no boxes, now aday's I'm a little more careful whom I buy from.
But as I have only a limited budget these guy's are becoming more & more tempting.
He's certainly selling plenty.
alanmac
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:37 AM UTC
Hi
Model-In is well known, along with a few other characters as prolific counterfeiters and I have on a number of occasions reported his sales to the effected companies. They as I understand it are the only ones Ebay "might" take notice of.
In reality they (Ebay) make lots of noise about getting rid of this sort of thing from their site but even high profile court cases don't seem to be able to stem the tide.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jul/01/ebay.hitechcrime?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
For the moment we must rely on the honesty of people not to buy these "stolen" goods rather than wait for Ebay , after all although it's wrong they still earn money from these sales via their percentage.
Without a doubt virtually any resin figure you see coming out of China sold on Ebay will be a recast forgery. So much so that I now filter my Ebay searches to exclude China.
It's easy to see that these are recasts and anybody who gives the excuse when seeing the prices that they didn't realise they were not genuine is either very naive or stupid to be honest.
Tell tale signs are, "no more box" that's a favourite of another Hong Kong based rip off merchant, the resin not being coloured the same as the original, the reference number not being the same as the original, the name not being the same as the original.
But the most telling sign is it being sold by Model-In
If you were selling a Verlinden, Pegaso, Alpine Miniature, Hornet, Tank or any other leading brand figure you'd make a point of mentioning it in your auction because these are signs of quality and you know they'll stand by their products. If you buy from these crooks soon you won't have originals to buy anymore.
Alan
Model-In is well known, along with a few other characters as prolific counterfeiters and I have on a number of occasions reported his sales to the effected companies. They as I understand it are the only ones Ebay "might" take notice of.
In reality they (Ebay) make lots of noise about getting rid of this sort of thing from their site but even high profile court cases don't seem to be able to stem the tide.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jul/01/ebay.hitechcrime?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
For the moment we must rely on the honesty of people not to buy these "stolen" goods rather than wait for Ebay , after all although it's wrong they still earn money from these sales via their percentage.
Without a doubt virtually any resin figure you see coming out of China sold on Ebay will be a recast forgery. So much so that I now filter my Ebay searches to exclude China.
It's easy to see that these are recasts and anybody who gives the excuse when seeing the prices that they didn't realise they were not genuine is either very naive or stupid to be honest.
Tell tale signs are, "no more box" that's a favourite of another Hong Kong based rip off merchant, the resin not being coloured the same as the original, the reference number not being the same as the original, the name not being the same as the original.
But the most telling sign is it being sold by Model-In
If you were selling a Verlinden, Pegaso, Alpine Miniature, Hornet, Tank or any other leading brand figure you'd make a point of mentioning it in your auction because these are signs of quality and you know they'll stand by their products. If you buy from these crooks soon you won't have originals to buy anymore.
Alan
Henk
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:43 AM UTC
All the standard alarm bells are ringing here.
No mention of brand name.
Some of these figures look familiar (Verlinden?)
Apparent images from either the original manufacturer's box art or publicity material
Photo's of crisp parts, used for multiple auctions (Usually the original, the copy you receive is often of inferior quality)
Bad spelling. Whilst I appreciate that not everybody speaks/writes English fluently, if you were promoting your legitimate business, you would make a better effort.
Seller is from China. No offence to Chinese people at all, but the laws in China with regards copy right are non existent, and for that reason a disproportionate number of rip-off's originate from China.
The seller mentions the origin, or ownership, of the models not once. If they were legit, he would advertise them as such, as it will attract buyers.
Two separate, but related matters.
Ebay feedback is a good as useless. Most individuals are not giving bad feedback, for fear of receiving a retaliatory bad feed back.
I sold some 1/72 scale resin kits (legitimate before you ask...
) on ebay a few years ago. I received a question on each auction, from a Chinese buyer, asking if I would accept Dollars, in cash. Even though I explicitly stated that only Paypal was accepted. Nice try...Henk
stoney
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 480 posts
Armorama: 399 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 04:09 AM UTC
I'm ashamed to admit that when I first returned to the hobby I bought 2 figs from him, not really knowing the score, and they were crap, but as I started learning more I was pretty unimpressed. So for my penance I have tried my best to single handedly keep my LHS in buisness as well as several legit resin company's. I feel it's my duty to purchase as much honest resin as I can now.
cach7
Joined: October 13, 2002
KitMaker: 444 posts
Armorama: 439 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 04:15 AM UTC
I wouldnt even think of buying this stuff. If this person/persons are involved in the kind of fraud what else are they doing. Stolen merchandise, credit card fraud.You might save a few bucks but it might bite you in the arse later. 
Removed by original poster on 07/08/08 - 15:38:30 (GMT).
CMOT
Editor-in-Chief
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 04:39 AM UTC
I would think the best way to handle this is to give the information to the company/companies that are being ripped off., if they see this as a problem they can then take action themselves. please do not take this as myself saying this persons actions are ok.
alanmac
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 04:46 AM UTC
Hi Henk
The rules regarding feedback have changed on Ebay. You can now post as a buyer what you thought and the seller cannot give you negative feedback because of what you say.
I know that a while ago, maybe a year or so, Taesung Harmms won bid on a figure that was a copy from one of his Alpline Miniatures. He then refused to pay stating why. The seller pleaded for him to remove the negative feedback, it appears this is what they don't like- negative feedback..
Maybe representatives of the companies he copies from should bid to win the item then do the same as Taesung.
All we can do as individuals is not to buy them, report what we see to the manufacturers then its up to them to complain to ebay.
I have reported copies to Alpine and Tank and have received a thank you response. Nothing from Verlinden or MK35 for my efforts.
Alan
The rules regarding feedback have changed on Ebay. You can now post as a buyer what you thought and the seller cannot give you negative feedback because of what you say.
I know that a while ago, maybe a year or so, Taesung Harmms won bid on a figure that was a copy from one of his Alpline Miniatures. He then refused to pay stating why. The seller pleaded for him to remove the negative feedback, it appears this is what they don't like- negative feedback..
Maybe representatives of the companies he copies from should bid to win the item then do the same as Taesung.
All we can do as individuals is not to buy them, report what we see to the manufacturers then its up to them to complain to ebay.
I have reported copies to Alpine and Tank and have received a thank you response. Nothing from Verlinden or MK35 for my efforts.
Alan
Bratushka
Joined: May 09, 2008
KitMaker: 1,019 posts
Armorama: 657 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 05:38 AM UTC
Quoted Text
It's easy to see that these are recasts and anybody who gives the excuse when seeing the prices that they didn't realise they were not genuine is either very naive or stupid to be honest.
very naive or stupid seems a bit harsh. i don't think i'm either, but honestly if you showed me the genuine article i would be hard pressed to guess a price, especially with resin products. (truthfully, I am so woefully in the dark about military figures I couldn't even tell you what the plastic ones from Tamiya and the other companies that make them cost.) i recently bought a resin military wrecker kit from Real Models and it was over twice the price i would have imagined it cost. that isn't meant as a complaint, i'm absolutely delighted with it and it has restored my faith in resin kits! beause i have very little experience with resin models i don't think that compromises my humanity.
Quoted Text
Tell tale signs are, "no more box" that's a favourite of another Hong Kong based rip off merchant, the resin not being coloured the same as the original, the reference number not being the same as the original, the name not being the same as the original.
poor quality, imperfect castings, boxes and labels that look near home made would fit the description of the dozen or so resin WWI aircraft kits I bought years ago perfectly. the worst one, a Fokker E.I, I still have because it's so pathetic i can't believe i paid as much as i did for it! it about ruined me with resin kits forever until recently when i bought a Verlinden M578 resin conversion kit and the M543A2 wrecker i bought from Real Models began to change my opinion. another learning experience was my recent purchase of a military truck (M123A1) kit from Tank Workshop. while i no longer worried about poor quality as long as i bought from reputable manufactureres, until i opened the box i didn't know there was any other kind of resin but the hard yellow-brownish kind. the kit was gray and some of the long, thinner pieces were quite flexible.
if i bought something like one of those figures armed only with my limited experience and the empirical knowledge I gained from my few early resin encounters, it wouldn't make me naive or stupid, methinks. now, if i did something like that and then learned the truth of what i did, if i repeated the action i would be deserving of whatever adjective one would describe me with.
experience is a cruel teacher; the test comes first and the lesson second.
alanmac
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 06:08 AM UTC
Hi Jim
a bit harsh maybe but to be honest if you visit this forum and others on modelling then you are probably more than just a casual model maker.
As such probably visit online e-tailers, manufacturers web sites etc. to check out new releases, stock and prices. Knowing that most resin figures average out at around £7 - £9 UK money from even a quick browse, then when many are being sold on "buy it now" option for £1.99 + postage who would "honestly" not think why is this so cheap.
Also if you've been looking for figures, no doubt the fact this A hole rips of the box artwork to show on Ebay would also trigger a thought that you'd seen this figure/artwork/image somewhere else.
Whilst I'm sure many of the resin kits available in the past which you've experienced come from what could be described as "cottage industries" the figure world seems to have got its marketing act together long ago. Excellent boxes and packaging.
This is why another rip off merchant who actually has the cheek to call the figure by the original makers name and show an image on the ebay page of the box, they states "no more box" in the description. It's easy to recast the figure, even create the label by scanning and printing the original. Getting a replica box made is far more difficult. What you won't get in all instances is the "genuine" figure.
I'm sorry to say if its resin figures, if it's ebay, if its China, it's almost certainly a forgery. Prime culprits are model-in and wingpro886 (that's the "but no more box" clown) but we also seem to have another coming in from Poland, tank-mania.
Of course any of these are quite welcome to challenge these statements and prove they buy their figures from the original manufacturers or their distributors.....
Alan
a bit harsh maybe but to be honest if you visit this forum and others on modelling then you are probably more than just a casual model maker.
As such probably visit online e-tailers, manufacturers web sites etc. to check out new releases, stock and prices. Knowing that most resin figures average out at around £7 - £9 UK money from even a quick browse, then when many are being sold on "buy it now" option for £1.99 + postage who would "honestly" not think why is this so cheap.
Also if you've been looking for figures, no doubt the fact this A hole rips of the box artwork to show on Ebay would also trigger a thought that you'd seen this figure/artwork/image somewhere else.
Whilst I'm sure many of the resin kits available in the past which you've experienced come from what could be described as "cottage industries" the figure world seems to have got its marketing act together long ago. Excellent boxes and packaging.
This is why another rip off merchant who actually has the cheek to call the figure by the original makers name and show an image on the ebay page of the box, they states "no more box" in the description. It's easy to recast the figure, even create the label by scanning and printing the original. Getting a replica box made is far more difficult. What you won't get in all instances is the "genuine" figure.
I'm sorry to say if its resin figures, if it's ebay, if its China, it's almost certainly a forgery. Prime culprits are model-in and wingpro886 (that's the "but no more box" clown) but we also seem to have another coming in from Poland, tank-mania.
Of course any of these are quite welcome to challenge these statements and prove they buy their figures from the original manufacturers or their distributors.....
Alan
Removed by original poster on 07/09/08 - 07:20:22 (GMT).
HONEYCUT
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 08:19 PM UTC
Quoted Text
hmm sure you're right there Brad, but i still have the nagging feeling that those figs being bought fraudulently are actually getting used in dioramas, dioramas that are ending up in forums like those ones; look at the amount of positive feedback the guy got from people who obviously speak the Anglo saxon as a native language!
Honestly i didn't know there were people counterfeiting figs before I saw some explosive threads here, and I somewhat think that some people who fall on those threads will just look at the address -then at the positive feedback the guy got and will reach to their credit card without thinking twice. I hope I am wrong but hmmmm..
the
hehe cheers mate. I completely see what you mean, but I don't see the harm in posting a link to the seller in question. As you say, they are probably (unfortunately) being used in dioramas here, but hopefully shedding more light on it will warn off others from going down the same path, deliberately or not as the case may be...
Quoted Text
Of course any of these are quite welcome to challenge these statements and prove they buy their figures from the original manufacturers or their distributors.....
Alan
Don't hold your breath Al!
I'm in total agreeance. I inadvertently bought similar Verlinden figures a couple of years ago; the seller labelled them as Verlinden (without box of course) They were a Dutch seller. The bizarre thing is that the resin it was re-cast in was of better quality than the originals, but that said, it took this purchase to realise just what is happening out there, and that more needs to be done. I have no fear of giving negative feedback (although from here on in it will be tough as I won't be buying from any of them)Kudos to Taesung for the effort he went to...
Brad
jezza
Joined: July 14, 2004
KitMaker: 33 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 03:28 AM UTC
I totally support copyrights laws- I don't buy pirated movies nor do I download illegal stuff from the internet.
But my question is- is it an infringement to buy these copies if the originals are no longer available? I mean, some of these figures that Model-In is producing are old Verlinden items that I haven't seen for years.
Similarly, there are some guys in Bangkok that are selling vinyl recasts of the old Horizon and Screamin' movie monsters that simply aren't available anymore.
Copyright laws are designed to prevent loss of income of the original sellers, but what happens if the originals aren't sold anymore? Do we simply move on to another model, or is it okay to buy the pirated stuff?
But my question is- is it an infringement to buy these copies if the originals are no longer available? I mean, some of these figures that Model-In is producing are old Verlinden items that I haven't seen for years.
Similarly, there are some guys in Bangkok that are selling vinyl recasts of the old Horizon and Screamin' movie monsters that simply aren't available anymore.
Copyright laws are designed to prevent loss of income of the original sellers, but what happens if the originals aren't sold anymore? Do we simply move on to another model, or is it okay to buy the pirated stuff?
Bratushka
Joined: May 09, 2008
KitMaker: 1,019 posts
Armorama: 657 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 03:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Jim
a bit harsh maybe but to be honest if you visit this forum and others on modelling then you are probably more than just a casual model maker.
As such probably visit online e-tailers, manufacturers web sites etc. to check out new releases, stock and prices. Knowing that most resin figures average out at around £7 - £9 UK money from even a quick browse, then when many are being sold on "buy it now" option for £1.99 + postage who would "honestly" not think why is this so cheap.
Also if you've been looking for figures, no doubt the fact this A hole rips of the box artwork to show on Ebay would also trigger a thought that you'd seen this figure/artwork/image somewhere else.
Whilst I'm sure many of the resin kits available in the past which you've experienced come from what could be described as "cottage industries" the figure world seems to have got its marketing act together long ago. Excellent boxes and packaging.
This is why another rip off merchant who actually has the cheek to call the figure by the original makers name and show an image on the ebay page of the box, they states "no more box" in the description. It's easy to recast the figure, even create the label by scanning and printing the original. Getting a replica box made is far more difficult. What you won't get in all instances is the "genuine" figure.
I'm sorry to say if its resin figures, if it's ebay, if its China, it's almost certainly a forgery. Prime culprits are model-in and wingpro886 (that's the "but no more box" clown) but we also seem to have another coming in from Poland, tank-mania.
Of course any of these are quite welcome to challenge these statements and prove they buy their figures from the original manufacturers or their distributors.....
Alan
Hi Alan. Now that I know more about the matter I wouldn't buy a known bogus copy of another's work. Via eBay I have bought complete model kits from China and that whole region and gotten some neat kits. Some people refuse to buy anything from that area of the globe and that's OK with me because there were kits I tried to get domestically that either got bid far beyond what I would pay or I'd get sniped at the last second on. But as a music collector I know there is a thriving market for music and movies from there that are copies. Even though I do know what I'm doing there it's still hard to be 100% certain 100% of the time. I've also seen stereo gear duplicated and sold for ridiculously low prices but the seller would charge crazy shipping. A tube buffer amp I wanted sold for around $400 US and were manufactured in Canada. Some guy was selling them on eBay for $15.00 and charging $350 to ship to the US. The charges were all listed in Chinese currency. It was funny reading the negative feedback where buyers backed out of the purchase after getting the invoice and he blasted them back for not paying. That was a specialized bit of gear that one would HAVE to know enough to see something wrong with the price so low.
There is an interesting point raised in this thread about items that are no longer produced and have been out of circulation for a period of time. I thought copyrighted stuff went into the public domain after so long with certain stipulations.
troubble27
Joined: October 10, 2003
KitMaker: 783 posts
Armorama: 637 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 03:03 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Seller is from China. No offence to Chinese people at all, but the laws in China with regards copy right are non existent, and for that reason a disproportionate number of rip-off's originate from China.
The seller mentions the origin, or ownership, of the models not once.
Henk
Henk dont sugar coat it. China steals everything, copies it and then re-sells it at half the price or less. Microsoft just busted a huge counterfitting ring that went all the way back to China and Taiwan. Given their horrible reputation, I dont know why countries dont stop trade with China alltogether. I also had some scammers on Ebay from China. One wanted to know the product key on a video game I was selling supposedly to see if it was "legitimate". Clearly, he just needed it to make his pirate copy work. And when I sell on Ebay, I flat out refuse to ship anything to China. By far, the worlds biggest theives.
Kuno-Von-Dodenburg
Joined: February 20, 2007
KitMaker: 1,453 posts
Armorama: 1,319 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 08:16 PM UTC
Quoted Text
..... a couple of years ago; the seller labelled them as Verlinden (without box of course) They were a Dutch seller. The bizarre thing is that the resin it was re-cast in was of better quality than the originals, but that said, it took this purchase to realise just what is happening out there
I bought a couple of recasts (not being aware at the time that they were recasts) off that Dutch guy as well, maybe 2 or 3 years ago - I seem to recall his eBay handle being "stinkypete" or something similar.
I also have to admit that I once bought a 120 mm figure from one of those Far East "no more box" characters without realising it was a recast - indeed it was only after I joined Armorama that I realised that there was a pirating problem with model figures, and it came as a big surprise to me ("watches and electronic media - okay. But scale figures?????!!")
That's why I think that all efforts should be made to make people aware of the problem, and it's a disgrace that eBay encourage it.
HONEYCUT
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 08:48 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I bought a couple of recasts (not being aware at the time that they were recasts) off that Dutch guy as well, maybe 2 or 3 years ago - I seem to recall his eBay handle being "stinkypete" or something similar.
That's the mang! 
Tarok
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 12:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
But my question is- is it an infringement to buy these copies if the originals are no longer available? I mean, some of these figures that Model-In is producing are old Verlinden items that I haven't seen for years.
Similarly, there are some guys in Bangkok that are selling vinyl recasts of the old Horizon and Screamin' movie monsters that simply aren't available anymore.
Copyright laws are designed to prevent loss of income of the original sellers, but what happens if the originals aren't sold anymore? Do we simply move on to another model, or is it okay to buy the pirated stuff?
Regardless of whether the company is still around or not, the product is still somebody's intellectual property, and they are entitled to any returns generated from the sale of said products if the product is being produced. That said, AFAIK copyrights do lapse after a period of time, and once that period is up it (the product) can be freely produced.
jezza
Joined: July 14, 2004
KitMaker: 33 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:12 AM UTC
So how are we supposed to know which recasts are legitimate to buy?
And stinkypete is a counterfeiter? Dang! I bought 2 figures off him a couple of year ago- they came in a ziplock bag with an official-looking Verlinden photo too!
And stinkypete is a counterfeiter? Dang! I bought 2 figures off him a couple of year ago- they came in a ziplock bag with an official-looking Verlinden photo too!
Tarok
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 01:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
So how are we supposed to know which recasts are legitimate to buy?
Categorically, any recast that is of a OOP product by an existing company is counterfeit.
I don't think we would have gotten to the point in time where the copyright on any OOP figures (and I'm talking those companies that have folded) has lapsed, so those may legally be seen as counterfeit.
If someone has bought, or taken over via other legal means, the IP you will normally see the product on the site of a legit manufacturer or reseller. In fact, you will more than likely have seen an announcement on Kitmaker of the change in ownership of the master.
If in doubt about the legit nature of a product, particularly on eBay, please feel free to ask in these forums.
Rudi
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