Small companies that make up the outdoor cottage industry are a likely source of innovation, due to the design freedom they have. However, these small companies typically don’t have the means, or it simply isn’t practical to spend $15k to protect their ideas for 9 years. Rather, for the most part, these businesses seem to respect each other and follow an unwritten code of ethics. It’s kinda just not that cool to rip each other off and it seems like it’s mostly respected.
Sure, there is a lot of grey area where things are fair game. There is a sea of Alpha hoodies that are all about the same. It would be silly for anyone to claim rights to the concept of an AD hoodie. Similarly, there are concepts like false bottom sleep systems, where different designs have been around for a while and different companies execute the idea in different ways. Someone had the initial idea at some point, but that is lost in history somewhere. Quilt edge tension systems have recently spread from a source. I know, in some examples, some effort was made to pay royalties or at least do it in a slightly different way. Our Timmermade draft skirt design came out of my head, but later, did draw at least some inspiration from an old Jardine design. That did cause me to really question whether to move forward or not. Ultimately, I chose to do it since it isn’t something being produced and we’re not taking anything from anyone.
However, there have recently been some pretty blatant rip off copies of Timmermade products by a company called Rockfront that really seem over-the-line. The MegaZip was poached, but at least sorta made in a slightly different way that created the illusion of novelty. Of course the timing told a different story, but I can’t realistically claim ownership of long pit zips.
Now, Rockfront has straight-up, carbon copied the Waterbear, which is a totally unique design that came out of my head with no inspiration from anything and with no other market examples. There is absolutely no grey area and no doubt about where it came from. It’s a full copy, with the same exact materials. I definitely feel offended and it seems really, really slimy….but I know there isn’t anything to be done about it, and I’m not really sure what I should even think about it.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and we can only produce so many. Does another option create the rising tide that floats all ships or whatever? I dunno….I just think it’s wrong. I could never do it to someone, but again, I can’t imagine there is anything I can realistically do about it, other than put this company on my personal naughty list.
This is actually how I picture the death of Timmermade. Ideas and designs will get poached and watered down, while preserving the headline appeal. It’ll get mass produced by robots for cheaper and people will choose cheap and easy over morals and ethics. Quick and generic will replace thoughtful dialogue with your builder and the hand craft will die.
I guess I’m curious about how stuff like this lands with consumers. Personally, as a consumer, I’m apt to, initially, follow the cheap and easy trend, but when I am informed of situations like this, I will happily pay more….wait longer….whatever, to do the right thing. Am I alone in this? Does the cottage market care about the craft? Does it care about morals and ethics? Or does it ultimately just follow the general trends of capitalism?