BJD makers threatened by China-based counterfeiter / trademarks

A thought just came to mind when you mentioned chips, as I think that could be a viable option. Companies could embed something similar to the microchips used to register pets in both the headcaps and chest parts of their dolls (as those seem like the most likely spots to have resin thick enough to cover the chips), and keep scanners to verify the serial numbers. Perhaps licensed distributors could keep scanners as well, to both verify that the chips work when the dolls arrive, and allow for easier access to verification if someone suspects they might have been sold a recast labelled as legit. Distributors and companies both could print reports for when the doll was scanned, and these documents could be included with the COA and box. If the companies kept a database of scanned numbers and the dates they were verified, it could also provide easy access for potential buyers to double-check the serial number and sales history.

It might not sound like the most convenient system, but it would be something that the recasters couldn't replicate.

 

The microchip idea maybe good in theory, but I dont think its in practice. A database would require a whole new server, and it would take resource$. Thats it without mentioning normal people wouldnt be able to check it anyway since they dont have scanners...

 

It seems like a cool idea but if it becomes common it'll be even harder and more expensive for single artists too

 

And if people wanted a scanner as well it would cost a lot and would require different ones for different brands why would someone be so spiteful ...

 

btw... info on chips is easy to get changed.... it's what we did with a stray we took in and the info on the chip proved no longer valid... so our data went on it then...

 

That would actually depends on the database kind and so on, but yeah, not the most pratical idea overall.

 

I personally like the ‘head plate change’ idea most. It doesn’t cost noticeably more in production, is easy to check upon and needs no complicated steps to proof the doll is legit.
It also avoids or decimates the chance of getting lost.

By the way, thank you all for your input and taking the time to find a solution for this problem!

The only way to solve this problem is working on an efficient and easy way to identify recasts, make legit dolls stand out AND educate beginners and recast owners.

As a single artist, do you have any idea to make it harder for recasters?
What do you think about changing a head plate’s design in a specific rhythm?
I’m super interested and curious.
If artisans and customers work together to get a solution, we can make it!

 

What @ATYL said and a little add on: You won't be able to register without legal council. And specialized help is really expensive.

The main thing, though: It's easier to willfully break the law than to protect your assets. Like ATYL said, registering won't stop ill intent from using a name that's similar, but juuust different enough to continue with their crime. They also won't be prevented by starting a business in another country, using some sketchy loophole. This practice is done in Europe to prevent tax pay. Just have a post address in Poland, say that this is your main office and suddenly your French company does not have to pay taxes, because on paper you're Polish.
Criminals don't have to abide by the rules to do their thing. On the other hand, victims need to tick every box possible to prove to a judge that they ARE victims. There's always some box you will have forgotten (or which laws have changed recently that you didn't know of).

People like Luo thrive because of this discrepancy. They stay well-hidden within the loopholes of the law. And if they do get charged for something, they simply close shop, start over in some other city and continue their merry way. And since they don't have to pay for legal fees to prosecute, hoping that their lawyers are able to build a case solid enough to get to court (most cases don't), they can keep this up for a looong time. Unlike their victims.

 

Well said, @Silk.

 

I can't speak for other countries, but at least here, what's on the chip is an immutable number that links to your info in a registration database; your info isn't actually on the chip. However, the security of the database would be critical (and it would be hard to make it secure while giving access to everyone who would need to register), the cost would be punishing for the companies, and it still wouldn't do anything for older dolls.

 

@ATYL and @Silk

Thank you for the clarification

It is awful that the law protects the criminals more than their victims, it's the same with everything it seems


BTW though, if they start selling dolls with chips then I will consider only buying 2nd hand old dolls. I have enough of every organization on the planet trying to steal my personal information. I expect some illusion of normalcy when I buy from Asia, that's part of its charm.

 

As a society we only have ourselves to blame for what China is doing to us. We want cheap electronics, have China manufacture them and now they make their own brands that they are selling back to us, goodbye electronic manufacturing in North America.
We want cheap 5$ shirts, goodbye to the rag trade also as all the factories closed down, New York's garment sector was decimated.
You want to get clothing manufactured over there, you have to buy their fabrics so our local fabric industry bye bye!
They are copying furniture to the point they are banned from Milan's furniture show because they produce knock offs faster than the original creators can get them to market. I collect 1/12th scale dollhouse miniatures, at our latest show in Montreal there were 2 Chinese girls and one man with a clipboard the girls would go take photographs in the sales room and reporting back to the guy for the next thing to take a photo of, those artisans will see their stuff knocked off by next year.
Chinese people are charming hard working industrious people, copyright doesn't really exist over there.
As long as we expect below cost stuff, China will be happy to oblige. If nobody wanted to buy knockoff dolls they wouldn't bother making them. Unfortunately morals go out the window when getting something dirt cheap comes in to the picture, Napster anyone?
the music industry is just coming back from that stuff. We reap what we sow, and our creators and workers pay the price.

 

I don't unfortunately, I'm pretty new at this.
My bat dolls have a custom box insert and a filled in crescent moon inside their heads so if they ever get recast it makes it a bit easier to identify a legit, but it's more a hurdle than something that would stop them if they really wanted to recast my work.
I'd be interested to hear other ideas too!
Unless casting services offer chips I wouldn't be able to do it, and as it's mostly a way for me to stay active in the hobby I don't know that I would be able to afford to host a database.
Of course, my own work has not been recast thankfully, but you never really know until it's happened and at that point its too late to implement safegaurds against it.
I am hoping everyone can band together for solutions and it's been so nice to see people coming up with ideas!

 

This whole thing just makes me sick to my stomach.

 

Was looking on Alice Collections and an event has me wondering ... I'm guessing this is when you congratulate recast supporters...

Angel Fantasy is having what most of us would call a final close out sale because they are closing their doll factory.... THIS is what supporting recasters does....

 

Yeah, as I mentioned in my previous post, the microchip idea wouldn't be the most convenient for a lot of reasons. It was simply the best I could think of at the moment that the recasters wouldn't be able to find an easy way to circumvent.

I wonder, maybe companies could do a stamped logo with some kind of permanent ink inside of the headcap? I know the idea of permanent ink on a doll sounds scary, but it couldn't be replicated in the casting process.

 

The stamped logo could potentially be replicated too though, after a recast is made... but maybe if it were done with a special ink unique to the company (sort of in the way that money is printed with special inks) it might be an idea for companies to consider or use as a spring-board for other ideas.

 

Wow, I knew that recasting had taken off in recent years, but it takes a special kind of scum to not only steal someone else's work but try to defame them and claim they are the counterfeiters.

 

I never saw an angel fantasy recast though, are you sure the things are related?

 

This might be a little off topic:
But this entire thing has made me wonder if I really want to go into the route of making a doll and having it for sale at any point. I know I shouldn't let recasters keep me from doing something I want to do--- but it's such a scary thought. I cannot imagine what artisans are feeling at the moment.

Also Im really happy there is discussion of other ways to protect BJD products, if just for better reassurance in secondhand market of what is a legit and isnt. It's just really hard to figure out a solution that is both effective and not too expensive to do. Casting in itself (especially after looking at casting services) is extremely expensive. I think both the artist and consumer would rather not put more money into material cost, rendering a doll much more expensive in itself. The scary thing about this is whatever artists do, the recasters are always watching and able to replicate. Assuming they have materials to easily replicate. Or acquiring materials to replicate isn't as much as a hassle as it is for the artist to acquire these materials in the first place.

I think some of the more interesting things I have heard/seen artists have done with their products is put really tiny details in their dolls interior. It might come up in a recast or a recast mold, but because the details are so small and the artist cleans these small details up well after casting--- Makes a recast in question easier to spot, as most recasters tend to ignore these details (or miss them altogether).

Rather it be a really tiny logo, letters, words, etc. I think some of the more creative places I have heard this done is within hard to reach places in the torso or even where string goes into the hip. Again, it might not be so hard to replicate, but it is just another way to make our items easily identifiable.