Are Replicas Ethical?
Posted on April 6, 2009
Filed Under Global economy, Watches, economic meltdown, economy, foreclosures, replica watches | 2 Comments
Imitation Jewelry and watches and almost everything else is easily available for purchase. Is it right? Is it ethical? As the world recession sets in, many people have found cheaper ways to seemingly continue living in the same lifestyle they were accustomed to. One can purchase a Submariner watch made famous by James bond for about $25,000, or… he can get an imitation for about $120.
There are certainly legal and moral issues at stake. From a legal perspective, if the imitation item does not have the logo of the original or does not use any patented design then there are no real legal problems. On the ethical side there certainly are problems that need addressing. Companies like Rolex and others, have spent a lifetime branding a product. When anyone mentions a Rolex there is no need to add the words “quality watch“ that is the very definition of a Rolex. The Rolex Company has spent untold millions of dollars to brand its name. Copycat opportunistic companies use this branding to sell their replica watches, it just doesn’t seem right. Such copycats would counter that they never claim to be the “real thing“. They are the good guys in the story, they claim. They provide a product to those who could never afford anything more while never claiming to be authentic. It is not an easy call.
Beyond the legal and ethical issues another major question needs addressing. That is the question about what forces so many to fake their success and financial ability to purchase real designer watches or products. The obsession with status symbols and the need to live above the means at ones disposal is a rampant problem. It has caused the present economic crisis. The same type of individual who feels a need to buy a fake Rolex is the same type that would over extend himself by purchasing a mortgage he easily pay for. To some this will sound overly simplistic to others a correct diagnosis of present day reality.
The cold hard statistics of what pretend status can bring are sobering. In 2007, lenders begun foreclosure proceedings on nearly 1.3 million properties, a staggering number compared to about 700,000 foreclosures in 2006. This increased to 2.3 million in 2008. As of August 2008, 9.2% of all mortgages outstanding were either delinquent or in foreclosure. That means almost 1 in ten mortgages were in default. Between August 2007 and October 2008 close to 1,000,000 USA residences were foreclosed. The lenders and buyers of these houses were equally criminal in all this. The lenders were just greedy, as these high risk loans were very lucrative. The borrowers were status seekers who were determined to live above their means come what may. They will claim that they broke no law did no wrong and hurt no one but themselves. They wore their fake Jewelry and bought gigantic homes with no capital and in the process brought down the global economy.
When all types of imitations thrives, when the illusion of a status symbol is so easily attainable, it becomes clear there may be something inherently wrong with the financial system. Those who seek to hide there inability to become rich and buy homes they can’t pay for also, all too often, purchase imitation watches. Phenomena such as these are symptoms of the same disease.
There was one man who actually made tens of thousands of illegal watches. Binh Cam Tran is his name. He is currently in jail for the next 6 years. The majority of those who sell these watches never claimed them as the real thing, they’ve committed no crime. They took advantage of those that needed to pretend they had made it. It is difficult to say whether it is right or legal to sell this type of service to people. It certainly smacks of un ethical behavior.
Capitalist economic theory says that the individual will fuel economic health by worrying first and foremost about themselves. An individual who wants to make money will provide services to make that money. These services will be available to others who in turn will specialize in another service for other people. This circle of specialized services is what provides for a stable economy.
That’s great for theory, the problem starts when there are no checks nor balances. Maybe it is just conjecture on my part but I suspect that many of those that had their homes taken away owned imitation watches. All in all, nonetheless, it is difficult to really judge those in these very difficult times that would succumb to clear vanity and wear a fake Submariner watch or other fake Rolex. Can you really blame them?
In times of crisis, the people’s morale needs to stay high as they try get back on their feet. They do not need to feel broken by sudden unexpected changes in the world financial markets. If feeling good while wearing something that’s is fake will help a individual, so be it!
We are not living in easy times.
David Waldman
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[...] Freedom added an interesting post on Are Replicas Ethical?Here’s a small excerptImitation Jewelry and watches and almost everything else is easily available for purchase. Is it right? Is it ethical? As the world recession sets in, many people have found cheaper ways to seemingly continue living in the same lifestyle they were accustomed to. One can purchase a Submariner watch made famous by James bond for about $25,000, or… he can get an imitation for about $120. There are certainly legal and moral issues at stake. From a legal perspective, if the imitation item does no [...]
These are not easy ethical issues as people grapple with financial hardship and practical living expenses. If someone specifically says he is selling imitation merchandise then most of the ethical problem dissipate