Fake Chinese bike parts

[Battersby]

I don't think it's racist to say that a lot of fake bike parts come from China. After all, there's no suggestion that this is somehow a byproduct of a Chinese 'race', not is there a suggestion that all Chinese are engaged in producing fakes. Many have said that London is the money laundering capital of the world without there being any suggestion that most Londoners or Brits are involved or dodgy. Surely, the same applies here.

However, although I'm not convinced that the accusation of racism is justified in this particular case, I have long thought that there are sometimes racist overtones in the way American and British manufacture is often valorised in cycling circles while 'far eastern' is used to imply inferior. You're not wrong that the West can be hypocritical either.

However, I'm not picking up on any racism or hypocrisy from the guys in this debate.

Using terms like Chinese and "they" rather than individuals is racist.

I know quite a few Chinese people and non of "them" have any involvement or support for IP infringement.

 

[Battersby]

That's just not correct. Infringement in these terms means theft.

That is a long debate that has been had for decades. More so now when you actually don't own anything regards to media.

 

[GTLoz]

Reproduction sounds far fancier than fake though doesn’t it …..

Here’s a question then …..

Would this extend to decals? As we all know it’s near impossible to get genuine retro bike decals so we use likely a person who reproduces them and are all happy mostly with them. But I’ve never heard them referred to as fake.

Very good point. However, and this is just my opinion only, if a bike manufacturer was producing and selling decals for old "£x" and copies were selling for half that price, I would probably use the term fake. But the fact getting genuine decals is near impossible I think reproduction fits the description much better.

Also as others have said there is a huge difference between reproducing a product that is no longer available and copying an available product to sell at reduced prices just make money by undercutting the genuine article.

 

[The History Man]

Such as museums and galleries selling framed prints of popular artworks therein?

Many of which are on loan and don't even belong to them.

 

[Cloverleaf]

I understand IP law but saying "the Chinese" is racist.

I'm guessing your reading comprehension leaves a little to be desired. I didn't say 'the majority of Chinese people', which would definitely be a racist generalisation, I said 'the majority of the Chinese fakery', clearly reducing it down to a specific subset; i.e people involved in manufacturing fakes in China, which is by far and away the largest global source of fake items. Not. The. Same. Thing. What do you want me to call them?

As to the difference between fake and repro, it is a very fine line and I think some tread over the line. However, where my moral compass lies is that fakery is a copy of something available for sale, and usually a whole item. Reproduction is something that is no longer available, and generally not the whole component (i.e brake adaptors, decals etc etc). In the legal sense though, the moral compass has little to do with it.

 

[lawson]

So....... Anyone got the link for the knock off Bjorn Cycles stuff I was after?

 

[Battersby]

I'm guessing your reading comprehension leaves a little to be desired. I didn't say 'the majority of Chinese people', which would definitely be a racist generalisation, I said 'the majority of the Chinese fakery', clearly reducing it down to a specific subset; i.e people involved in manufacturing fakes in China, which is by far and away the largest global source of fake items. Not. The. Same. Thing. What do you want me to call them?

As to the difference between fake and repro, it is a very fine line and I think some tread over the line. However, where my moral compass lies is that fakery is a copy of something available for sale, and usually a whole item. Reproduction is something that is no longer available, and generally not the whole component (i.e brake adaptors, decals etc etc). In the legal sense though, the moral compass has little to do with it.

OK, I wasn't originally talking to you. It was in regard to the use of "they" regarding the Chinese. But thanks for throwing personal insults in as well...

I may also add that Chinese make the majority of I'll consumer items, legit or not.

 

[Cloverleaf]

OK, I wasn't originally talking to you.

You literally quoted my post and said 'racist'.

 

[Battersby]

You literally quoted my post and said 'racist'.

I apologise, it wasn't originally directed at you although you did defend the original racist post.

 

[The History Man]

V or Canti?

Something more interesting and far more controversial.

Am I being cancelled yet?