#HTE
Flotstealing: What’s Going On with This Design Knockoff?
Nicholas Baker is a talented industrial design student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. A little over a year ago, Baker designed this Prism Nightlight:
The goal of this project was to explore a personal light device and create an innovative product taking inspiration from a notable designer. I researched the subtle subconscious cues from Naoto Fukasawa’s design philosophy, along with his playful attitude to create my design.
The Prism is a simple night-light inspired by the classic see-saw. The light is turned on by a single tilt of the product.
Although Baker submitted the design to the Chicago-based Unbranded Designs platform, it does not appear to have gone into production. So imagine Baker’s surprise when he came across the following webpage:
Not only does China-based online retailer AliExpress have the lamp listed as one of their products, priced at US $63.11; to add insult to injury, they’ve stolen Baker’s actual photographs of it, and are posting it as if they’re the actual product images!
This is just beyond the pale. What’s not clear is if AliExpress ever actually produced the knockoff, as there are no photos of their own, and the lamp is listed as “no longer available.” Was it ever available? Is it possible that this shadiest of companies was at one point simply collecting payments for an object that they not only did not own the rights to, but never even bothered to produce?
“I just don’t know enough about the legality of these things to know what rights I have,” writes Baker, who designed the project in November of 2014, on the Core77 boards. “Anyways any help or contacts would be greatly appreciated.”
Baker, I’d say you’re going to have to contact an attorney, but I cynically suspect you’ll never be able to squeeze a penny out of AliExpress. Anyone have any advice or personal/professional experience in this area?
http://www.core77.com/posts/45291/Flotstealing-Whats-Going-On-with-This-Design-Knockoff