Is Cloning Ethical?

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Glen Snyder

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xan13x

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No. It's copyright infringement just like everything else. Obviously it's not ethical but some people just don't have the money to be dropping 2/300 on a flashlight tube.

So, it's ok to be unethical if you can't afford to be ethical?

Edit: also, there are literally hundreds of "not blatant ripoff" products available. You don't have to have a poldiac and an ithaka to vape. If you can afford an ego battery and an evod, the cost argument kinda flies out the Window.
 
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Hidden Dragon

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I understand the general question to whether or not cloning is unethical. It all depends on each individuals own opinion. There will never be a definitive answer of yay or nay. You will always have people on one side of the coin that says cloning "higher dollar/better materials" is unethical because it takes away from the original manufacturer hard work, while the other side of that same coin will say, what's unethical is not giving such a great product to the masses to benefit from at an affordable rate and making such items so "pricey & rare" that only a certain "vaping class" can afford them. I've read a ton of threads, reviews and videos and when it comes to this subject, people are all over the place with their opinions, which they are entitled to.

But, what I have come across a lot is the simple fact I believe others here (and Todd in one of his latest videos) have stated this, there's only so much that can be done with the same design. Some of the high end mods and atty's are copy of other high end mods or attys and it all seems to flow downhill. Some are built better than others while some give you more bang for your buck at a cheaper price point. But since a lot of mechanical mods and the like come from one simple design, if someone improves on that design, is it still a clone or the evolution of a device? If someone makes a cheaply made copy of something is it not just a "copy" and not exactly a "clone? I always thought when the word "clone" is used, it is referring to an exact duplicate, inside and out (same parts, materials, etc., right?) In this regard, there are very few "clones" and just a bunch of copycat wannabes. No?:?:
 

retired1

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The entire cloning debate when it comes to e-cigs is asinine. I see no cries of outrage over the US copying of Chinese designs. Because let's face the facts here. The entire e-cig industry started with China over 8 years ago. And now we have people crying about China copying other designs. Seriously? Folks need to be happy that this business isn't like the tech industry where you have companies suing the crap out of each other for copyright infringement instead of being innovative in their designs.

Want to pay 900 dollars for your next mod? Keep whining about "clones" and how terrible it is. Eventually someone with deep pockets will copyright something and then you'll REALLY be up the creek without a paddle.
 

xan13x

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The entire cloning debate when it comes to e-cigs is asinine. I see no cries of outrage over the US copying of Chinese designs. Because let's face the facts here. The entire e-cig industry started with China over 8 years ago. And now we have people crying about China copying other designs. Seriously? Folks need to be happy that this business isn't like the tech industry where you have companies suing the crap out of each other for copyright infringement instead of being innovative in their designs.

Want to pay 900 dollars for your next mod? Keep whining about "clones" and how terrible it is. Eventually someone with deep pockets will copyright something and then you'll REALLY be up the creek without a paddle.

Yea, I mean, look at all that innovation that is coming out of fasttech!!! There are Asian companies that are.... legit e-cig companies, but the clone makers aren't innovating crap. The e-cig started in China 8 years ago? Well, crap I guess that Provari and Ithaka are really just clones of some disposable cig-a-like right?

Trying to say that since someone in China made a vaporizer 8 years ago, so they have the right to hijack anyone in the industry's designs is akin to saying that the first person to wear something on their feet can copy all Nike shoes and it's fair game.

While I do agree that the process of protecting designs and technology does get out of hand, saying that anarchy is the answer is crazy. 900 bucks for your next mod? Might want to go back to the econ book and read about supply and demand... God forbid someone be compensated for their work, and that GASP people might have to do a little of their own to find a sought after product.
 

xan13x

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Mod makers ARE getting compensated for their work. I don't see the folks who make the Provari whining about lost income. The only whining I'm seeing are from clueless users who think everything started in the US.

The Provari comment was in response to saying that China started it, so everyone else is copying them. It had nothing to do with Provape being compensated, since, as far as I know, there isn't a real Provari "clone". As for the US thing, where did that come from? Aside from juice, most of the highly regarded original designs I see are from Europe. I could care less who makes what as long as they actually designed the damn thing, or improved on another design.

THAT is the problem, the copies are mostly lower, or substantially lower quality than the original. I'm all about someone taking an idea and improving on it, but that isn't what's happening.
 

Huffelpuff

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The only real problem that I have is making a cheap replica and referring to the original's name. At least try to change it up a little and don't piggyback on someone else's hard earned reputation. There are so many things that you can do w/ a battery and feeder - I get it. Is it right to refer to Juggernaut or Odysseus and sell a cheap imitation? That, for me, is where I draw the line. Not judging at all - just hate the taste of that. It's legal but not kosher in my book.

Sorry, again, that I raised an issue that was beaten to death - honestly had no idea!
 

retired1

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Sorry, again, that I raised an issue that was beaten to death - honestly had no idea!

Beaten to death? It's been beaten so much it's no longer recognizable as horse flesh. It's nothing more than a quivering lump of something unrecognizable at this point. :lol:
 

Thunderball

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Is Cloning Ethical?

I can see both sides of the discussion...how about this opinion...

Ask Sam Colt if it was ethical to clone other guns until he made a superior firearm

Ask Henry Ford if it was ethical to copy other designs and then make a better car.


Maybe its not the same, and maybe it is.... but some of the clones are better than the originals and that is the way of things. Ethical or not.
 

UntamedRose

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The only real problem that I have is making a cheap replica and referring to the original's name. At least try to change it up a little and don't piggyback on someone else's hard earned reputation. There are so many things that you can do w/ a battery and feeder - I get it. Is it right to refer to Juggernaut or Odysseus and sell a cheap imitation? That, for me, is where I draw the line. Not judging at all - just hate the taste of that. It's legal but not kosher in my book.

Sorry, again, that I raised an issue that was beaten to death - honestly had no idea!


I agree with that the whole name thing is BS but names are stolen in many industries(Rolex rip offs for example)..... also got to throw in Capitalism and Ethics dont meet often. ;)
 

Glen Snyder

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Beaten to death? It's been beaten so much it's no longer recognizable as horse flesh. It's nothing more than a quivering lump of something unrecognizable at this point. :lol:

Heck, I thought it was an armadillo carcass that fell out of someones pick em up truck :toast:


I agree with that the whole name thing is BS.....but also got to throw in Capitalism and Ethics dont meet often. ;)


Happens every day, it's called bankruptcy court ;)
 
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