[lordbest]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

I think I remember that convo. It took place on the DC thread (?); a long and tedious dialogue about what does and does not constitute a bootleg.

You could be right. My comments about the number of auctions for this fig were a bit exaggerated. Best I can tell, there were four. If we see large numbers of auctions over the next few months, then my money is on KO. Which wouldn't stop me from nabbing one. I was playing with DTL when I commented about the Chinese KO's pointing out IP theft. He knew that, and responded with a hilarious comeback (by the way, Dark, as a kid I bought a pair of fake Bally shoes...but quickly stepped up my game to the real shits in an effort to authenticate my 'fake' yardie/rude-yout' phase of dress ). Knock-offs and boot-legs can definitely hurt a business, but they also serve a purpose when prices soar to unreasonable levels. If someone buys one, Like Dubious said, no judgements...just don't try to resell it as authentic.

That sounds right yes.

I don't judge anyone for buying knock offs, I'm just not comfortable with it personally. I have a problem with companies just ripping off other companies work, maybe not so much with corporations like Hasbro but the bootleggers don't stop with them. So I don't buy them, but I don't hold anyone to the same standard and I certainly don't claim any higher morality about it.
I don't have any issue with underpaid Chinese workers stealing figures from the factory and selling them, which was the popular theory for how these guys got their figures. I think one of the Star Wars figure fansites bought some of the Star Wars figures they were selling and they swore they were official.