All about replicas: Corner-Cutting Commentary

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by calmtigers

Guess what guys everyone steals from everyone.

Lol wut

[calmtigers]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Lol wut

In terms of design, it would be difficult to find even one company that hasnt taken ideas from others.
Be this in rims, cars, computers, cell phones, clothes etc

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by calmtigers

In terms of design, it would be difficult to find even one company that hasnt taken ideas from others.
Be this in rims, cars, computers, cell phones, clothes etc

Having similarities and being full blown replica are two very different things.

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Having similarities and being full blown replica are two very different things.

This.

And what's more... it is the spirit of the thing.

[Joakim3]

Originally Posted by calmtigers

In terms of design, it would be difficult to find even one company that hasnt taken ideas from others.
Be this in rims, cars, computers, cell phones, clothes etc

Essentially what Tyler said....

Being similar (and taking inspiration) and flat out copying are two very different things

Takes these Fondmetal 7900 wheels


I'm getting these for my FR-S, do they have a lot of similarities to Audi's RS series 5-spoke propellor rim, yes. Are they direct rip/knock offs, hell no.

[calmtigers]

Originally Posted by Joakim3

Essentially what Tyler said....

Being similar (and taking inspiration) and flat out copying are two very different things

Takes these Fondmetal 7900 wheels


I'm getting these for my FR-S, do they have a lot of similarities to Audi's RS series 5-spoke propellor rim, yes. Are they direct rip/knock offs, hell no.

But copying an idea is considered terrible right?

Sampling still looked down upon in music? No.
Rip off?
Yes

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Having similarities and being full blown replica are two very different things.

Yup.

Here's an interesting exercise for people. There is a certain Rota authorized dealer that identifies the exact wheel that Rota is knocking off on their website. They are selling Rota wheels with the name of the real wheel in the product description.

It's a site that uses the term JDM (without even knowing what that means), and a Password is also involved.

[Joakim3]

Originally Posted by calmtigers

But copying an idea is considered terrible right?

Sampling still looked down upon in music? No.
Rip off?
Yes

But the Fondmetals I posted aren't rip offs as there shape isn't identical to an RS5's wheel other than both having 5 spokes.... so this would be an example of inspiration + evolution of a design

What companies like Rota do is literally take the same casting (or something insanely close) of a pre-existing wheel and call it their own, not take a design and use it as a starting point for their own style.

This being said... it's so superficial about who has real vs. fake rims as regardless of what side your on, every single rim ever built (and I mean EVER) was based off a pre existing rim which then led to a new rim evolution and so forth until we have today's batch. Might as well call the rim a copycat of the stone wheel

[OrangeJuleas]

Guys, guys, settle down.

If everyone had to buy the same $3000 wheels from only approved manufacturers, who would we have to look down upon and cast judgement? We need poor people who buy cheap knockoff rims out there so we can justify how awesome we are.

FWIW, I personally own a Appel ePod, which I use to listen to music on my Beats By Fred headphones. I use my SungSam Nebula ZIII to call my friends and find the nearest McRonald's for delicious fish "sandwiches". I smoke Kamel Lights with my Zappo lighter, which never fails me. Finally, I am using my computer, a brand new Dull Inspirate with over 10 gigs of RUM to post this comment, so you all may look at me like such a pleb for not having a gold encrusted watch or wheels that cost as much as another used car, but in the meantime I'm saving money and having the time of my life.

Also, here is the original 6 spoke wheel design. Anything else is just a knockoff and not made with actual real cast steel.



Beautiful in its simplicity, isn't it? Let's slap a red sticker on it and call it a knockoff, yeah?



*GASP*

*IS SHOCKED*

*HOW COULD THEY?*

[calmtigers]

Originally Posted by OrangeJuleas

Guys, guys, settle down.

*GASP*

*IS SHOCKED*

*HOW COULD THEY?*

How could you out troll me like this

But hilarious

[AznKirby]

Aaaaaaand... Adding fuel to the fire

BBS declares war:
http://www.vwvortex.com/news/afterma...brand-pirates/

[Zerocool2nd]

Originally Posted by LSxJunkie

Not this shit again. Some of us drive in the real world, where we deal with things like potholes and road debris and road work. I'd rather have a good looking wheel that won't cost 900 dollars to replace. Save your 9lb forged unobtanium wheels for gaining that extra .3 seconds per lap in the wheel to wheel driving you don't do.

[King Tut]

Originally Posted by Zerocool2nd

Or you move out of a shit state like New Jersey to a state that doesn't have multiple pot holes per mile of road and avoid them. You will find that when you pay $900 per wheel, you try to take care of them just like when you pay $28k for a brand new car, you try to take care of it.

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by AznKirby

Aaaaaaand... Adding fuel to the fire

BBS declares war:
http://www.vwvortex.com/news/afterma...brand-pirates/

I don't want to fire up the arguments again, but this article brings up a very good point...

Replica wheels are one thing, they take the same design (or a close similarity, appearance, etc) of another wheel, but they sell it under a different name. Often the copy needs to make some sacrifices to keep the price down (such as cast vs forged barrel, weight, etc). This I'm OK with.

Counterfeit wheels take the same design, but instead try to sell the copies under the original brand name (such as the BBS counterfeits in the article). Unfortunately, counterfeits can be extremely convincing. This is what needs to be avoided because it's blatant fraud.