This might be a little rant, but please let me explain! We are going to use one example, just to keep the overview nice and easy. Also I'm not going to flame any brands, besides there being way too many to name. It would't be fair to mock one and not the other.
The beginning
So in the world of watchmaking there is one main guy, Rolex. They made the first Rolex Submariner in 1953 with the ref. number 6204:
(Picture credit: watchonista)
The trigger to this mayhem
Intellectual Property has a maximum limit of 25 years in the EU (in total
including the extension periodes)(http://www.fiveipoffices.org/material/systemoverview/overview.pdf). So now it's legal to just make whatever was made under those patents.
Copy companies
Like some real vultures a lot of companies waited for the expiration date of, probably, the most recognizable wrist watch in the world. From a business standpoint I sort of understand the move they made, but it's a total violation of the bro-code. It kind of like the purge, because it isn't illegal anymore, from day one, you do it! This brings me also to my second point, it is lazy as hell, copying a design from someone else, and just changing the brand name. Let me visually show you how these ''hommage'' watches look from my standpoint:
Being a amateur watch designer, I strive to make something that makes me proud, how the hell can you be proud of something that you didn't think of yourself? I wonder how their business meetings go, filled with people trying to take credit for something they didn't think of themselves (we all know one of those f*ckers).
It's the fault of the consumer
Sorry to say it, but if you buy this nonsense, you're part of the problem, your poring fuel on the 'design copying' fire. Oh you like the design of the Rolex but can't afford it? Don't get it then. I can't afford it right now, how amazing would it be if I can finally buy one, would make it that much more special. Don't walk around with something you wish was a Rolex, don't deny it, deep down you know you wish it were one!
If Rolex were to be Dicaprio, you're walking around with something that looks like the drunk Russian look-a-like of him
To both sides, companies and consumers, just stop it! Get that creativity up, enrich the culture, don't poison it with your filthy control-c + control-v watches.
I'm out,
Ron