Sometimes the original and the pirated copies are just each other's parasites
Sir, Hugh Williamson reported May 8 that “Counterfeiting losses are less than claimed, says OECD” and mentioned that the upcoming results of some studies could prove embarrassing to some international business lobbies which have used high estimates to further their causes. I looked further into the details of such studies and found worrisome that OECD seems to put counterfeiting and piracy in the same sack of problems, where they do not belong.
A counterfeit is an imitation made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. This is not only clear criminal behaviour but besides the direct costs, implies often great dangers, as for instance in the case of falsified medicine.
Piracy, the copying of a trademark or patent covered product to be sold at so much lower prices that no one could think of deceit, is comparatively speaking more of a venial sin, and about which we need more debate before declaring it so illegal that it should be hounded down, at any cost, and as a consequence increase the growth potential for those in the society that are dedicated to criminal and illicit activities.
Just as an example let me ask you the following: What is worth more, an original Vuitton handbag in a ladies lunch where all the ladies carry Vuitton, Gucci, Prada or Hermes Birkin (my daughter’s favourite, she is now looking at a pre-owned simple hand bag going for $9750) or that same handbag in a ladies lunch where all other ladies use pirated Vuitton bags. Exactly! The worth of the original is increased by the willingness of people to use cheaper copies of it. And in this respect the $900 dollar bags has nothing to do with the $20 dollar copy except as mutual parasites. You would never ever be able to sell the true bag at $900 were it not for the $20 dollar fakes, and also less of the $20 dollar fakes without the $900 original.
I have written a great book, Voice and Noise, and that is slowly turning itself into a collector’s item on account of so few reading it. I would love to have it pirated, if that would help me to reach thousands of readers. Any willing pirates out there? Then I could easily have my original retail for $190.
A counterfeit is an imitation made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. This is not only clear criminal behaviour but besides the direct costs, implies often great dangers, as for instance in the case of falsified medicine.
Piracy, the copying of a trademark or patent covered product to be sold at so much lower prices that no one could think of deceit, is comparatively speaking more of a venial sin, and about which we need more debate before declaring it so illegal that it should be hounded down, at any cost, and as a consequence increase the growth potential for those in the society that are dedicated to criminal and illicit activities.
Just as an example let me ask you the following: What is worth more, an original Vuitton handbag in a ladies lunch where all the ladies carry Vuitton, Gucci, Prada or Hermes Birkin (my daughter’s favourite, she is now looking at a pre-owned simple hand bag going for $9750) or that same handbag in a ladies lunch where all other ladies use pirated Vuitton bags. Exactly! The worth of the original is increased by the willingness of people to use cheaper copies of it. And in this respect the $900 dollar bags has nothing to do with the $20 dollar copy except as mutual parasites. You would never ever be able to sell the true bag at $900 were it not for the $20 dollar fakes, and also less of the $20 dollar fakes without the $900 original.
I have written a great book, Voice and Noise, and that is slowly turning itself into a collector’s item on account of so few reading it. I would love to have it pirated, if that would help me to reach thousands of readers. Any willing pirates out there? Then I could easily have my original retail for $190.
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