Mostly addressing the bolded part.
My primary thought on that question is that China is not different with what the discussion is about in essence. Apart from the essence, they are just the prime target that gets stereotyped into being collective counterfeiters in the world market. But IMO, there are possibly (I would think likely) legitimate designers in China who could just as well have their products counterfeited. And plausible that it could be a US company that is counterfeiting the original designer based in China. So, for me, the principle is more important than this being a China - US thing, as if China is always the bad guy and US is always the good guy.
Earlier, I thought of another way of addressing the main point, but wasn't sure if I'd be breaking some forum rule in the process. My thought was to copy another person's post in this thread, but not quote them. Pass it off as if I am saying the same thing, without changing anything. Perhaps, I could insert a comma somewhere in the post where the originator didn't, and later claim it wasn't an exact replica. But even this wouldn't probably be an effective way to make the point. If we all on ECF got paid for each original post, then it would be a very good way to make that point.
To me the philosophical, and therefore ethical, points that are in play are:
A - establishing a reputation based on branding, and having that associated with value of a product (or goods sold).
- When that is mimicked with very similar logos, designs on the surface, plus with virtually the same product design, it is stealing that reputation. Personally, I believe everyone reading this cares about this in their own way, and has a stake in it that would get fairly emotional for each individual if their 'path' was seen as crossed without permission. IOW, if I was able to steal your reputation in whatever it is you produce, then sell it as if it were my own, and that I share at lower cost, with same value; then, I'm confident you would likely be emotionally distraught over it. Especially if buyers were like, 'we don't care, we just want it for less money.'
C - Accumulating wealth / earning a living
Take B and C out of the picture, and stick only to reputation, and I still see A as a huge issue for most people, but not all people. Add money back into the picture, and I would say it is an issue for all people. Because B and C exist for pretty much all people, then it is challenging to be too hard on the clone distributor as they are participating in the system as best as they can with what they feel is, to some degree legitimate.
I don't really see A as all that tricky, but have to reiterate what I said in post 103, "pretty sure I'd buy a clone and also sure I'd be cognizant about the hypocrisy involved, by me."
I just don't know if I could come onto a forum and pretend otherwise and still be honest with my self about the principle of the matter.
