I don't personally tend to buy high-end brands, usually they are not worth the money compared to often much cheaper items that are comparable on the market, and on digging around a bit it seems that capitalism is doing quite a good job of bringing us cheaper versions of high-end products in all sorts of areas....
Cookware, fashion and tech...
Le Creuset has been a mainstay of middle-class British kitchens since the first cast-iron casserole dish soared off the shelves of Selfridges in 1961. Despite the brand's many registered trademarks and designs the beloved French company is up against an army of less expensive "dupes" in the biggest battle in its 100-year history, with little assistance from the legal system.
A dizzying list of copycat casserole dishes are available online at steep discounts, some of which are ten times less expensive than the original and retail for as little as £34.
High-end brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel have fought for a long time with counterfeiters.
And social network sites now hype on the term ''dupes'' with Influencers very openly touting recommendation on dupes to their followers.
And those who make dupes, aren't dopes, they are usually able to dodge actual trademark infringement, and avoiding mentioning the the brands they are copying. One work around is that they market themselves as being 'inspired by' the original brand...
It is the same with the beauty industry. Urban Decay's Naked collection or Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk lipstick both have their more inexpensive versions. These dupes can be seen, reviewed, and recommended worldwide, even to shoppers, with some consumers opting for the cheaper versions, albeit the quality and ingredients might not always measure up to the original.
Another area hit quite hard by copycats is the sneaker market. The influence of brands like Nike and Adidas is so great that new designs almost immediately trigger copies. Some clones even replicate these models so closely that even enthusiasts have a hard time discerning the differences. Legal enforcement is difficult and costly, and many copycats operate out of legal reach.
Tech is also affected. Apple for example sees a very significant number of accessories, even the design of its iPhones and AirPods, copied or inspired by competitors. Some things are patented and trademarked to give security; however, generic "true wireless earbuds" have styled up and sold for less than $20 online.
Final thoughts...
Personally I see nothing wrong with companies creating copycat products, brands tend to price themselves so high they are out of most consumers' reach anyway, so fair enough if we can get similar products without the status-label for significantly cheaper!