On Chinese copies

SWCT your perspective, wit, and style is always appreciated. I am glad we have a place to share our thoughts and ideas.

SWCT your perspective, wit, and style is always appreciated. I am glad we have a place to share our thoughts and ideas.

Thank you! I feel the same way about you as well, specifically in this case, getting me to think outside the box. I tend to be a deep thinker at times, and as such, overthink things, and I tend to get a little philosophical as well. Making friendships with people who get me to think outside the box, and see things in a different perspective, is something that I appreciate. And yes, I recognize you from that other shave site, which I won't name for obvious reasons lol. Its great that we can connect and share ideas, agreed. 

Sounds like a good Grad Student research or Thesis project. It's an interesting theory.

The Constitution: it's not just a good idea, it's the law

This topic appears to be somewhat hard to me. Because most DE razors look like one another. Some of the original designs are still on the market today. However, non-Chinese artisans might use the designs to create their razors. They are very popular right now.  For example:
Merkur Progress --> Rocnel Sailor
Fatip OC --> Lambda Ares
Muhle R41 --> Lambda Athena
Merkur 34C --> Weber
Edwin Jagger DE89 --> Blackbird, Raw RS10
Pils --> Ikon , Tradere

The extreme examples are easiest to identify. Truly, everything in the middle is a muddled mess. Most copies are "transformative" enough to be differentiated from the original. Sure, Matt was more than annoyed by the Pearl Flexi in his video comparing it to the Ambassador. But the Flexi is different enough that it can be considered "inspired by," not a fraudulent duplicate.

In contrast to "inspired by, if you have ever visited a big city, you have probably experienced the proliferation of Rolex, Gucci, Coach, . . . available to you at significantly discounted pricing on the street Very easy to duplicate, very difficult and expensive to enforce against.

I am still confused when everyone says that Pearl copied the Rex when they were making a copy of the Gibbs, exactly the same way Rex made a copy of the Gibbs!! They both are copies of the Gibbs, no disputing that...

I am still confused when everyone says that Pearl copied the Rex when they were making a copy of the Gibbs, exactly the same way Rex made a copy of the Gibbs!! They both are copies of the Gibbs, no disputing that...

But Gibbs is long out of business, and can't sue for copyright infringement. Yaqi also makes a Gibbs copy.

I am still confused when everyone says that Pearl copied the Rex when they were making a copy of the Gibbs, exactly the same way Rex made a copy of the Gibbs!! They both are copies of the Gibbs, no disputing that...

But Gibbs is long out of business, and can't sue for copyright infringement. Yaqi also makes a Gibbs copy.

So then why is it that when someone starts a copy thread, usually the convo turns to Rex vs Pearl or Yaqi or whoever? Rex doesn't have a copyright either!!

I am still confused when everyone says that Pearl copied the Rex when they were making a copy of the Gibbs, exactly the same way Rex made a copy of the Gibbs!! They both are copies of the Gibbs, no disputing that...

Not entirely true. The head geometry is very similar, but the adjustment mechanisms are actually quite different, and the Flexi is closer to the Rex than it is to the Gibbs.