I know just about as much about copyright laws as a brick does, so
this may just sound out right dumb. But if it really came down to it,
and the originator has documentation that their design was published,
internet, brochure, bill of sale, ect, at a time that pre dates the
so called forgery, would that buy you any authenticity in a court?
Then again, you would be probably talking a lot more money to stop
the imitations if you had to take it to court.
Also, does a copyright or patent really do any good with all of
today’s knock offs from overseas ? An importer may not be able to
sell in the States, but the rest of the world seems to be a
free-for-all from what I have heard.
Another curiosity about rip offs, I have read that they can change
one little thing, and most of the time get away with stealing
someone’s designs.
As for myself, I don’t worry to much about it at this time. If
someone is going to steal a design, they will do it regardless of the
law. Look at all the Disney knock offs. If the Mouse cant stop it,
what chance would someone like myself have?
Daniel