[pp.int.general] Fake Rolex

[Stephane Bakhos]

> Martina Pöser wrote:
>>> Trademarks do not prevent you from being betrayed. This is exactly the
>>> same as that copyright does not make artists rich and famous. :)
>>
>>> Without trademark protection, it would not be illegal to sell you a Chinese
>>> fake ROLEX for 10000 euro! While it is not a watertight solution, it helps
>>> if something is criminal.
>>
>> Of course, it's a crime, if someone sells you a product which isn't what they say it is
>> and you pay more for it because you believe them. That's called fraud.
>
> That exactly the point, when trademarks enter the game. If more than one
> company would be allowed to produce rolex watches, that you could label
> something rolex, that has lower quality than the original watches.
>
> Of course this is only a problem for costumers, that decide to buy brand
> based and not based on specific features.

There are a lot of customers that are only buying based on banding.
Apple managed to reinvent themselves into a trendy hip brand with the 
iPod, then the throngs of trendy/hip people were quite happy to line up at 
the stores for hours and hours to buy an overpriced phone (or pad for that 
matter) that has all the features of an overpriced ball and chain.

There are literally thousands of brands out there that concentrate on 
targeting people who are ready to pay a premium for the brand.