Jamaica never had any laws about Copyright. People could take any Jamaican song or image and use it free, because unless it was registered in a country where there are such laws, there was no infringement of rights.
From the 1970s Jamaicans had been begging for a law to protect them, but the Government wasn’t interested.
In 1995, Microsoft refused to allow Windows ’95 to be released in Jamaica unless there was such a law to protect THEM. Not us. The Government, in its usual style, passed the law to protect them.
And suddenly, there were a lot of Them.
Suddenly, Tommy Hilfiger was jumping down our throats for breach. So was Clarke’s, Adidas, and every other ‘Name Brand’ you could mention. That is because Jamaica had a way of importing stuff from China with the logos.
The stuff was the usual Chinese rip off that we all know.
Other entrepreneurs would make links so as to get the goods without the name tag attached, and attach their own tag. And some would manufacture the item here and put the label on.
Recently, the famous Alibaba is back on the United State’s blacklist.
This is not the first time Alibaba was put on the list. It had been on for some time, then was taken off four years ago. However, its online platform Taobao is used to sell “high levels” of fake goods.
Taobao is a vast platform which resembles eBay. Many people have thought they were on eBay when they were deep in the land of rip off.
No one who has ever purchased anything from a Chinese firm is in the least way shocked.
Firstly, the Chinese sell extremely shoddy goods with ‘name brand’ tags. You can tell, as soon as you get it, or shortly there after, that it’s crap.
Secondly, the Chinese have absolutely no compunction whatsoever in selling poison. Whether plastic rice, other adulterated food or medicine, and surely not shoes and clothing.
The contempt China has for the rest of the world makes the attitude of a slave owner for his slave seem respect by comparison.
That Alibaba has been able to link itself to all sorts of sites, so that, for example, if you want to watch a T.V. show on line and click, up comes one of their ads. Many people have been duped by Alibaba, thinking they were buying Gucci or some other name brand, and only later realising it is a cheap copy.
In fact, it is only when you compare one of the rip offs to an authentic version does the fact it is a cheap copy scream in your face.
In Jamaica, we sold the cheap copies, cheap.
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good to know
I am quite glad it came to public attention and the US has acted.
It is happening everywhere in the world. Some countries are being caught and some are let lose on various grounds. Whoever is caught is dubbed as a thief and who is not is Royal and the Royals are always Loyal Loyal to whom is not relating to the present context.
If we take Adidas, the Company is providing employment for about 31,000 people worldwide. The company has got worldwide sales of 16,415m Euros. and has got 1,695 retails concept stores worldwide.
Its revenue from footwear segment alone is $9.13bn.
In respect of Tommy Hilfiger, the Global sales in retails were $6.4bn and is providing employment to 10,000 worldwide
When the Companies with such sound economic and social statistics are contributing to the economy of a country is it right to expect the availability of their product with cheap prices?
Is it not our foolishness to expect cheap prices of their products? We should know and understand what the value of a particular brand is before purchasing any product. Of course, we may at times get their rejected products in the market (usually does not occur) at cheaper rates than the copies products. We should then try our luck and go for them. Then, in that case, we will be benefited as these rejected products will be more superior than the finished products of other countries.
We should also know that there are some first copy products like first copy watches, first copy fabrics which will be available at cheaper rates The only difference is they are not manufactured in the branded factory The quality and other aspects will be good. Instead of spending money on purchasing right and going for separate logo and marketing they dub the logo of the famous brand which is already established in the markets. This is also a crime and should not be encouraged.
Even in India also, there will be some vendors who approach the public with some packets having 4 to 5 pieces of Reymond, Luis Philipps suitings and sell them at cheaper prices. They only say that the exporters give them to make a living on selling those suitings. Should we believe them? No. They are all from local factories of Surat, Ahmadabad and other states of India.
This is not only Jamaica but also several countries which are using these tactics to increase their economy, Of course, China has moved very rapidly leaving many other countries behind in this business.
We should not encourage such products and if we do it does mean that we are cheating ourselves and should not hold any other responsible for the loss that we incur. Why should always the Governments be approached to make laws when the facts are right in front of our eyes? If we do not purchase such articles and products this will add to the economy of a country and for the employment of other people.
We should throw the blame simply on Governments and enjoy with the mischief .
We all want the 'Name Brand'. The Name Brand is expensive. The counterfeit product has the name but is cheaper... in all ways. If you know that this is not a Nike but a 'Mike'... counterfeit, and costs 1/2 the price...
China always sells fake stuffs.Sacks of fake rice from their country were sent in Ph only to know they are fake.They are plastic produced to look alike rice, very big crime.I never buy anything made from China.
About Alibaba, I have heard about it and was banned. I do not know why until this time Alibaba is still on the go to serve the people thru cheat.There was a time that I wanted to purchase a snoring ring for my sister, I noticed that the items displayed were nit the same as what I aw a week before. Then I checked and checked only to see eBay Alibaba, my goshness, I never bought.
I think the Interpol can charge them. Then , I wonder why your government has another kind of mentality of refusing to protect the people's rights?
Same thing in Jamaica. We got the plastic rice too... I run from things made in China. I look at every label and if it's China... NO!! I never even looked at the pop up. As soon as it popped, I hit the 'X' to shut the window. Nothing good comes from China.
My Gov. is so confused. They don't even know what is coming in. The alibaba is online so people might foolishly buy their rubbish.