View single post by mjl4321
 Posted: Sat Sep 29th, 2007 12:20 am
PM Quote Reply Full Topic
mjl4321



Joined: Sun Aug 5th, 2007
Location: San Diego, California USA
Posts: 43
Status: 
Offline
 The Ansel Adams print you purchased is produced with the permission of the Adams family who own the copyright of that image.  The owner of the copyright benefits financially.  The fake Rolex does not have the permission of the company that spent large amounts of time and money building a quality brand only to be 'leached' by someone looking to make a quick buck.

As someone who has invested time and significant resources building a company selling software, I take it very seriously when someone illegally copies that software and deprives me of my livelihood simply because they cannot afford to buy the original.

Copyright infringment is theft.


jsb806f wrote: Hucky,

Good point but that's a different question. I completely understand the initial reaction of buying something that I thought was real only to find out it is a fake! If I sell you a replica Rolex Explorer and claim that I am selling you an original that would be both unethical and illegal. That's a form of stealing. I am taking your money (and lots of it) under a false pretense. That's the same as buying a used car when the dealer has rolled back the miles. I am being cheated.

I'd really like to own a Panerai not beacuse of what is inside but because I like the way it looks. If I could buy a watch that was a replica of a Panerai but had the guts of a Seiko for $250 I think I would be happy. Again, I am troubled by my logic but it doesn't seem "wrong" anymore than owning my Ansel Adams print is wrong. I bought it knowing it wasn't the original photograph. I like it a lot. I certainly haven't done anything "illegal" by buying it and the print shop in the mall hasn't done anything illegal by selling it to me as a copy. But have I done something wrong.