Knockout knockoffs

[flexagon]

Would it be immoral to buy these earrings from here?



They're a knockoff and no money would go to the original designer, Frank Gehry. But on the other hand, the originals cost bleeping $500 from the real Tiffany, and something seems wrong about that, too.

Comments

[apfelsingail.livejournal.com]

It's probably bad, but my main reaction is to be excited about having affordable Tiffany design.

[rifmeister.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's immoral at all. And it's definitely legal.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20100526/0039459578.shtml

[a-kosmos.livejournal.com]

I think it mostly comes down to enjoyment. Would you like wearing them less (assuming that the quality is there with the knock-offs.)

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's immoral, very little in this world is truly original. (Although the link to those earrings you posted from Atlanta are definitely original). Swoopy silver earrings, no, not $500 worth of original.

[kaigex.livejournal.com]

Pricing custom things is odd, as there are different mechanisms that might underlie the expense. Sometimes the price reflects what the designer has to price it worth making a living at it, and then I could see the morality consideration. Often with designer jewelry though the price reflects what they sell for because the demand is so high and they are produced so slowly. And sometimes they are produced so slowly on purpose because that keeps the name high (such games underlie much of the price of that quintessential ridiculous-values-games gem, the diamond). And sometimes it's just a name. And, sometimes there's nothing particularly difficult or essentially original anyways, or the jump of creativity is in doing something slightly new in an otherwise well-known style, and expecting people to avoid making anything similar seems broken. So at some point, as long as the seller isn't misrepresenting them, its unquestionably fine. And, those are pretty fantastic looking earrings.

[dr-alycat.livejournal.com]

I say hooray for them that's bringing such beautiful earrings to the masses! freaking 500 dollars...