BJD makers threatened by China-based counterfeiter / trademarks

I have to say though, that the paper is not exactly the same thankfully, Iplehoue's COA paper has an iridescence to it (it's a pinkish hue at that) so at least the fake COA's Luo is making aren't completely identical. Still sad for anyone who does not know about it, but at least newbies could ask the community for help with identifying fake COA's if their not sure.

 

I've always wondered why artists/companies don't sign their dolls. Like with something permanent (marker/ink) on an internal location, like the inside of a head cap. And I say marker/ink because that unique marking will not be transferred to the recast because it's flat, and each signature's position inside the headcap might be in a slightly different location each time. I don't think a recasting company would be able to master each artist's/company's unique signature.
Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking... I'm just thinking of Pawn Stars when they call in their signature expert to authenticate celebrity autographs...

 

Yes, but people need to be aware of this differences before they are able to help.
Like, here on doa you cant ask in a thread if its legit or not, you need to send moderators a question, because they are less people there is less chance of them knowing about all the details for all the companies they are copying the coa.
This kind of details can also vary from picture to picture (light, angle and so on), so its easier to fool someone and that person would only notice when it arrived.

Signatures can vary a little, and because of this is easy to copy. I'm kpop fan, and some people copy idols autographs to sell, so I can say its not that hard depending on how used you are to this "copying" thing. Is not like we would be able to call a signature expert evertime we want to buy a doll.

 

I also wondered about it in the start of the copyright issue because they trademarked both "iple house" and "iplehouse" in china, but for usa/EU they only trademarket "iple house"...



ALSO, I CHECKED FOR UPDATES AGAIN, AND THERE IS SOME FROM MAY 16:

The 3 USA's trademarks (except for fairyland's one) are now as "PUBLICATION/ISSUE REVIEW COMPLETE". They are to be published for oposition @ june 19.

 

My certificate from inside and envelope has the space in between like iple house with small letters, but when the certificate is folded onto itself, the word is joined together like IPLEHOUSE in big letters, the part that folds in the front on the certificate not the envelope

Odii&Thaer&theCD I dont know what iredescent means exactly so I checked google, and found out it is like pearl shiny, but my card is white with texture and only the silver/grey front part is shiny if reflected on light I know it is legit because I am first owner so maybe my eyes are bad or they change it

 

I just checked my FID Rex certification and it does have a slight iridescent look to it, also be aware if you get a older Iplehouse doll the older COA is very different as well. My Iplehouse JID Ryan has a different style COA than my FID Rex.

 

And because the Mods aren't idiots, they consult knowledgeable DOA members privately when they need physical evidence or comparisons about dolls they don't personally own.

 

Which can take quite a while and the person may lose the oportunity to buy the doll, if its a great deal. Also, there is still a chance the member they contact doesnt notice all the details, so is still not the same as having many people giving their opinion.

 

This is so frustrating, opposition means people in the US can start sending letters to the trademark organization to provide proofs that Luo's logo and name are stolen from the original companies, right? You guys in the US can start fighting?

I haven't checked my Iplehouse certificates (not home at the moment), but I'll check as soon as I get home.

Maybe to check whether the doll is recast or not, just ask the seller to provide photos of the inner parts, where the strings go. As far as I know, the recast ones cannot completely copy the holes?

 

Which is still preferable to possibly buying a recast. I'd rather lose out on a great deal than buy a doll I'm not sure is legit ...

 

So how does this opposition stuff work? Can we start submitting evidence or does it have to be the company? I figure we should prepare if we can.

 

Thats obvious, I just meant the way doa (and some more conservative people) deal with it is not the best. The knowledge should be out there for easy acess so everyone will be able to avoid buying a recast.

It has to be done by the one's who will dispute the right, in the case, the companies.

@mangameow Napi answered the email:

 

I wonder if it's normal to feel anxious over the silent companies... I mean, we've been contacting several companies without any response. They never post a notice about this problem too... I just hope it doesn't mean that they give up with this situation.

I guess, I'd be even more thorough when buying 2nd hand dolls right now. If the seller can't provide any solid proof of the previous ownership and order number that can be checked, I'll choose to skip the dolls...

 

But how can you expect anyone to provide an "order number that can be checked" for a doll bought -- for instance -- twelve years ago from a company that's now closed?

I understand your concerns, but not every legitimate doll fits into the narrow set of purchase conditions that you seem to take for granted.

 

That is the part I meant, the sliver part is iridescent, from what I could see of the fake one that part is not (though I would have to see one in-person to know for sure).

 

I know what you mean, cause I also have a doll that I purchased long time ago and the company is no longer to be found. It will be hard to track down the data plus they didn't produce COA for older dolls at that time.

I also mentioned about solid proof of the previous ownership. What I mean here is, if the seller can't provide the data about the owners before him/her (that if the doll isn't bought first hand by the seller), doesn't have any information about the initial purchase or just simply doesn't want to share anything that can support the legitimacy of the doll... then I can't continue the deal.

But that's for me of course, I don't think it can be applied to everyone.. I also don't (and never) recommend people to do what I'll do. I'm sure someone else will still buy the doll and can find other way to prove that the doll is legit.

I'm sorry if I offend anyone with my wording and way of thinking.

 

This thinking is the unhelpful and unfortunate start of what is becoming a pretty nasty reality for a lot of us. A wealth of us who have been in this hobby for a decade plus have dolls that have no certificates, we can't provide order numbers or details since the companies may have closed, or dumped their databases, maybe we didn't post pictures online, maybe we didn't keep boxes, maybe the sales we took part in here or elsewhere are vanished into the ether. What exactly are we supposed to do here? I'd genuinely love to know because the alternative (and one which certainly in the UK, I'm already seeing happen) is all of us going to ebay and not bothering with the forums at all any longer. I don't want to have to do it, but this sort of thinking leaves people like me with little choice and the forums here with far less regular users.

 

How can one follow the progress of the trademark process? or challenges to the trademark grab by the different companies involved?
China has been historically lax in observing intellectual ownership laws.

 

Well, I guess then you and I will never enter into a deal, then, since with as many dolls as I own, there's quite a number where the company doesn't exist anymore and of course I didn't keep any receipts since I simply didn't know about recasts, back in 2008. There's also quite a number of dolls I bought here on DoA where I didn't keep any receipts or write down who I bought them from, either, and that came without their original box (it's usually cheaper to ship a doll unstrung, in a smaller box). It's been YEARS in many cases and I simply don't remember (and the space in the DoA inbox is finite, meaning I delete old stuff now and then). And then there's all those dolls (at least half of my Volks crew) I bought on Mandarake, some with headplates and papers and box, some with original full-set and face-up, some only with headplates, some without headplates, due to the dolls being made when headplates weren't a thing, yet ...