BJD makers threatened by China-based counterfeiter / trademarks

I'm really not into a witch-hunting, @PChu, but education won't work in the most cases. Only a small piece of recast owners don't know that their doll isn't legit and they hurt legit companies. Pro-recasters usually know about it, but having a doll they wouldn't afford in any other way is the most important thing for them. They know that there are cheaper legit companies, but it doesn't matter, they just want a SOOM or Minifee. They think that when we tell them: "Hey, you can just save money for legit dolls like me and many other owners" we bully them and if we don't tolerate counterfeits on our meetings, it means that we are aggressive elitists. They just don't care. They don't care about artists, they don't care about companies, they don't care about the hobby, they even don't care about dolls. They care only about themselves. I totally appreciate your good intentions, but I'm afraid you won't get many positive results.

 

It's just double edge sword problem for sure.

I'm sure all the community is disgusted to see those hashtags on IG or FB saying recast/recast friendly / recast owner sorta thing.
But what can we do about it, if we report then yes it might turn into harassment and witch hunt, but then we don't want them to continue posting those counterfeit dolls online

I just find most of the people who owe recasts continuously buy recasts afterwords even they know about legit.
Because, lmao they can buy 5 minifee with a budget that's equal to 1 legit minifee dolls.

 

Personally, I don't care whether persons who knowingly, repeatedly buy recasts go livid about being reported and possibly banned for posting those recasts on IG or FB as long as the reporting happens in accordance with IG's and FB's rules (like, say, if there's a rule "no sales of counterfeit goods" then report them if they're trying to sell their recast - they are knowingly violating the rules in that case). They've shown repeatedly they don't care so why should we spare their poor widdle feelings?

It's one thing to buy a recast by mistake, because you didn't know better. That can happen (and much too easily, nowadays). It's another thing if you're told about the problem and then decide to still keep buying recasts. Their cheap excuses for buying recasts are just that - cheap excuses. (Too poor? Save up! Not available in the resin colour you want? Well - tough luck. Big bad overpricing companies? Disproven again and again and AGAIN. etcetc)

 

This whole thing is just completely heartbreaking. I haven't been a part of this hobby for very long, but with this development I feel it is growing more and more fragile by the day. I honestly fear for this hobby's longevity, never-mind the fact that the community is so very deeply divided.

 

And this is the thing I really, really hate about pro-recast people. I often see confessions like: "Oh, I love this sculpt! I really do hope that L/S will recast it!". It's something like: "I am not a thief, but I have no problems with paying somebody for stealing something for me. And because I personally think that legit dolls are too expensive - and my opinion is the only one that counts, of course - I have to punish a company by buying recast, because I AM SO SPECIAL and selling a doll TO ME by the price I like is the company's responsibility!".

Damn, I am so angry. Why those people are so unethical?! Aren't they ashames of themselves?

 

Lmao alright I'll shush and keep update on lawsuit issue.
Peace out

 

I read this thread with horror and had no concept of how bad it was....very bad.

Thou shalt not steal. Amen.

 

Hi, just wanted to chime in as a direct victim of Luo’s (and countless ghost accounts) crimes.

We’ve been fighting recasts for over a year now and we’ve done all we could in order to protect ourselves. Everything is registered, copyrighted, trademarked, you name it. But that alone won’t stop these guys.

We would like to offer our help or join other affected companies in their efforts to shut down these thieves.
If anyone needs our help please contact us at [email protected], and if you know of any current developments regarding this topic or any class action lawsuit going on at the moment, we would really appreciate more information on that as well.

We’re a tiny company of two people, but we’re already working with lawyers and we’re determined to end this illegal business by any means necessary.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Thank you for the information, @Sakuli! Can I tell about your offer on my personal blog?

 

Of course. We probably can't do much by ourselves, but anyone willing to join forces with us will be welcomed. Feel free to spread the word. Thanks!

 

It looks like it's a sad day for us. It looks like one of the recasters got Loong Soul's Celestial Dog and sells his recasts. Of course, pro-recast people are very happy!

Is there anything we can do?

 

Hope China will start respecting intellectual property rights? I don't see how anyone has much leverage over them short of stiff tariffs (like 100%) on the whole industry which wouldn't get anywhere due to the interests of Mattel etc.

 

They are now using the Iplehouse name in their store-front address on AliExpress. I won’t link it for obvious reasons. I found it when I searched ‘Iplehouse’ after seeing a beautiful doll couple here in the Gallery and I wanted to look at the sculpts.
But the fake shop comes up for me as the entire first page of results in a google search with Iplehouse’s real website buried 30 results down.

 

LUTS has published some info. and a statement on their situation

 

There is one recast shop that has the Iplehouse trademark certificate, no lie and it says iple house the magic doll grow and play together...…..ewww…… they have just about all the dolls too from HID to BID and even FID. I even saw the back of a recast head and the head plate is spot on, now that is too scary!

 

Is there any news on the lawsuit(s) against Luo Ligui??? I kept hearing how some major BJD companies were teaming up together to send this scumbag to jail (or at least fine the crap out of him) but have since not heard any news of a lawsuit occurring. If anyone has any info please let us know because I think we can all agree how horrible this person's actions are and wish to see him be punished for his crimes...

 

In all likelihood, I should think it'll be while before we hear anything as legal matters can take forever just to get started.

 

I hope this is allowed because dealing with recasts in the hobby spaces online and off IS a growing problem. I don't see it improving at the moment unfortunately, rather the opposite and many people are asking this question, 'What can we do?' among ourselves.

IMO, stand strong and positive in support for artists, post in and support the legit-only forums and groups, leave the ones that tolerate recasts...keep everything from local meets and to bigger gatherings legit only, speak out in a positive but absolute way in support of welcoming legit dolls only with zero tolerance for recasts. As a hobbyist, I can't get behind the negativity of fighting with people over it or being mean to someone but I do NOT have to interact with or include in hobby spaces...these people who choose to buy and continue to support recast goods either. That's where I think the main conflict comes, in standing up and saying,
"No recasts are allowed in the legit spaces, period!"
And then following through on it at every level, even when it means having the courage to ask someone politely to remove a recast or asking them to leave or not attend/post if they violate the rules and bring one into the hobby spaces online or at your local meet. Another very good reason to plan your meets on DoA, and encourage membership here, using our doll profiles to detail provenance, posting meet photos here, etc...IMO.

Early on, I took the stance of considering the recasts in the same way I would consider any other fake/bootleg pieces in any other luxury goods hobby arena, where they have dealt with fakes for a long time. Fake goods are not tolerated, they are not even considered a part of the hobby, and they simply don't allow bootlegs anywhere in these hobby spaces and we shouldn't allow them anywhere in the doll community either. You aren't allowed to participate in the luxury purse and handbag or shoe hobby with a bootleg, for example...you will get kicked from the forums and escorted from the real-life buy/sell events if you post with or show up carrying a fake.

In the beginning I'm sure a few people DID get duped into buying some recasts, the information was not widespread like it is now but the key difference is that those people either sold off or 'put away for good' those dolls once they found out what was happening and now only support legit companies and doll makers. These days, the information is everywhere you look when you search 'bjd' so the 'I didn't know' excuse has really become just that, an excuse...because now the recast warnings and information on dolls is ubiquitous.

 

I'd like to add to that: And just ignore those recast-owners or -defenders who're trying to guilt you into interacting with them by calling you a bully for ignoring them. Ignoring someone isn't bullying. I ignore plenty of people every day, on my way to work, on my way back home, when I'm grocery shopping, etc. Not a single one of them, so far, has walked up to me and told me "Yo! Stop bullying me!" If you don't want to have anything to do with them then it's your right to ignore them.