There are many High End mods (HEM) and high end atomizers out there, and like most luxury items, they get copied. These copies range from copies, clones (1:1 replicas) to outright counterfeits, complete with logos, engravings, and randomized serial numbers. In a few cases, the clones are superior to the product they copy.
Lets talk about ethics:
He owned the patents on this idea, and he gave it to the vaping world with only one condition.
DO NOT MAKE GENISIS ATOMIZERS FOR PROFIT, AND DO NOT COMMERCIALIZE THE CONCEPT.
Within months these atomizers started being churned out by every high end modder in the world. raidy didn't get a penny, and he has mostly left the forums in disgust.
I read this thread the other day:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/495148-clones-actually-real-thing.html
and it made me laugh. Many of the mod makers have profited from a design concept they stole from raidy, and now they are offended that China is copying their designs and selling them cheaply? raidy wanted Genisis atomizers in the hands of every vaper, not just the ones who could afford them, and because of clones, his dream became reality.
Buy the high end if you can afford it for the quality, or buy the clone if you really care about the original intent of the inventor. Either way you shouldn't feel like a bad person for choosing one over the other.
This thread, on the FastTech forums is a fascinating response from a maker who's mod got cloned. He was equal parts dismayed that his work was copied and ecstatic that his name and product would be available for the world to use. http://www.fasttech.com/forums/1746703/t/1298135/hank-you-for-cloning-my-desing-mod
Nov. 26 2014 Update:
Now that I have a few authentic mods under my belt, I felt I should revisit this subject. My favorite mods (at least for the moment) are the GP PAPS v2.5 and the ZNA. I own clones of both these mods, and due to my owning clones, I've not only purchased the authentics, but have also purchased enough spare parts to turn almost all of my clones into authentics. For the PAPS, that means spending almost $300 to turn my clones into Lux mods. The only remaining clone parts are the switch housings. For the ZNA, I purchased the authentic adjustable 510, steam monkey tube, and hybrid adapter, and I just purchased an authentic that comes with all those as well. My Heron clones have been mostly turned into authentics as well, with the replacement of the GPins, springs, o-rings, and 510 adapter.
Clones are a great way to explore the world of vaping, and many people stick with clones. Often, clones are just as good as the authentics they copy, if not better. Often people who own and love authentic will buy clones to use as out-and-about "beater" mods; there's nothing wrong with that either.
Zen (House of Hybrids) welcomed clones of his product, and even went so far as to agree to service and upgrade the clone ZNA's...for a price.
Perseas, (VapourArt/GP) refuses to allow mentions of the clones on his forums and has gone so far as to edit posts that refer to them. He even asked an ECF member to remove a reference to it in her signature. This stupidly shortsighted view will cost him purchasers in the long run, because the clones are driving business to his shop. The clones, while good copies, do not match the authentics in materials or finish, and that was before he had the Chinese manufacturers start removing the logos.
If a manufacturer has a genuinely good vaping product, he or she does not need to fear clones. They are just free advertising.
Lets talk about ethics:
imeothanasis;11339364 said:
This man is the inventor of the Golden Greek mods (GG). He also created rebuildable atomizers for those mods, the UFS, Ithaka, and Odysseus, using ideas based off of the work of one brilliant German inventor who goes by the name "raidy" on these forums. raidy invented the Genisis concept, and the atomizer and tank setup for the same.imeothanasis;11349336 said:
He owned the patents on this idea, and he gave it to the vaping world with only one condition.
DO NOT MAKE GENISIS ATOMIZERS FOR PROFIT, AND DO NOT COMMERCIALIZE THE CONCEPT.
Within months these atomizers started being churned out by every high end modder in the world. raidy didn't get a penny, and he has mostly left the forums in disgust.
I read this thread the other day:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/495148-clones-actually-real-thing.html
and it made me laugh. Many of the mod makers have profited from a design concept they stole from raidy, and now they are offended that China is copying their designs and selling them cheaply? raidy wanted Genisis atomizers in the hands of every vaper, not just the ones who could afford them, and because of clones, his dream became reality.
Buy the high end if you can afford it for the quality, or buy the clone if you really care about the original intent of the inventor. Either way you shouldn't feel like a bad person for choosing one over the other.
This thread, on the FastTech forums is a fascinating response from a maker who's mod got cloned. He was equal parts dismayed that his work was copied and ecstatic that his name and product would be available for the world to use. http://www.fasttech.com/forums/1746703/t/1298135/hank-you-for-cloning-my-desing-mod
Nov. 26 2014 Update:
Now that I have a few authentic mods under my belt, I felt I should revisit this subject. My favorite mods (at least for the moment) are the GP PAPS v2.5 and the ZNA. I own clones of both these mods, and due to my owning clones, I've not only purchased the authentics, but have also purchased enough spare parts to turn almost all of my clones into authentics. For the PAPS, that means spending almost $300 to turn my clones into Lux mods. The only remaining clone parts are the switch housings. For the ZNA, I purchased the authentic adjustable 510, steam monkey tube, and hybrid adapter, and I just purchased an authentic that comes with all those as well. My Heron clones have been mostly turned into authentics as well, with the replacement of the GPins, springs, o-rings, and 510 adapter.
Clones are a great way to explore the world of vaping, and many people stick with clones. Often, clones are just as good as the authentics they copy, if not better. Often people who own and love authentic will buy clones to use as out-and-about "beater" mods; there's nothing wrong with that either.
Zen (House of Hybrids) welcomed clones of his product, and even went so far as to agree to service and upgrade the clone ZNA's...for a price.
Perseas, (VapourArt/GP) refuses to allow mentions of the clones on his forums and has gone so far as to edit posts that refer to them. He even asked an ECF member to remove a reference to it in her signature. This stupidly shortsighted view will cost him purchasers in the long run, because the clones are driving business to his shop. The clones, while good copies, do not match the authentics in materials or finish, and that was before he had the Chinese manufacturers start removing the logos.
If a manufacturer has a genuinely good vaping product, he or she does not need to fear clones. They are just free advertising.
