Some people get really bent out of shape when it comes to copies, or knock-offs. They seem to think that buying such items is somehow immoral and that people who buy them somehow lack integrity. I'd like to explore that idea a little.
I wonder how many people on this forum buy generic medications? Or do you have a loved one who does?
Pharmacutical companies spend MILLIONS of dollars to develope new medicines, they spend MILLIONS of dollars on marketing to spread the word about the effectiveness of their drugs. And then some other company comes along and copies the drug formula and sells the generic meds for a lower price. And those generic manufacturers NEVER ask the original developers/manufacturers for permission or pay them any money.
So, do you consider it immoral to cheat the pharmacutical companies out of their rightful profits by buying copies/generics?
How about this, who invented the liner-lock? Who invented the pocket-clip? Who invented the thumb-stud? When you buy a knife with any of these features (or any others) does it bother you that the original inventors might not be receiving any money? Do you consider it to be immoral to cheat those inventors by buying knives from manufacturers who COPIED those ideas and are making large profits off of them? Does any of this stop you from buying knives with such features? I doubt it.
It always amuses me when people try to apply morality to commerce. I wonder how many things you own, how many things in your home or car, are copies, or out-right RIP-OFFS, of other peoples designs? But you don't care about that do you? After all this is a knife forum, and some people prefer to apply the morality of commerce only towards knives.
This subject reminds me of people who rant against knives made in China, despite the fact that their homes are filled with Chinese-made goods, including the computer that they are using to rant against Chinese-made goods.
I wonder how many people on this forum buy generic medications? Or do you have a loved one who does?
Pharmacutical companies spend MILLIONS of dollars to develope new medicines, they spend MILLIONS of dollars on marketing to spread the word about the effectiveness of their drugs. And then some other company comes along and copies the drug formula and sells the generic meds for a lower price. And those generic manufacturers NEVER ask the original developers/manufacturers for permission or pay them any money.
So, do you consider it immoral to cheat the pharmacutical companies out of their rightful profits by buying copies/generics?
How about this, who invented the liner-lock? Who invented the pocket-clip? Who invented the thumb-stud? When you buy a knife with any of these features (or any others) does it bother you that the original inventors might not be receiving any money? Do you consider it to be immoral to cheat those inventors by buying knives from manufacturers who COPIED those ideas and are making large profits off of them? Does any of this stop you from buying knives with such features? I doubt it.
It always amuses me when people try to apply morality to commerce. I wonder how many things you own, how many things in your home or car, are copies, or out-right RIP-OFFS, of other peoples designs? But you don't care about that do you? After all this is a knife forum, and some people prefer to apply the morality of commerce only towards knives.
This subject reminds me of people who rant against knives made in China, despite the fact that their homes are filled with Chinese-made goods, including the computer that they are using to rant against Chinese-made goods.
