knock offs and cheaters!!!

knock off company

and our, hard earned over many years, Allen Designs Originals.

this company above was spotted by one of our European distributors at the Frankfurt show in Germany. they are blatantly copying us. makes me sick to my stomach. why people think they can just steal what isn't theirs. boggles my mind!

i knew this time was eventually going to come. we've had plenty of people over the years that have been "inspired" by our designs. one of them being an employee from a few years ago that had worked for me for over two years. she ended up quitting and telling us that her husband needed to learn how to support their family. little did i know, as we were throwing her a going away party and my children were crying at her leaving, that they were plotting to HIRE an artist and take everything she learned from me and my material sources and begin their own company making CLOCKS! i found out through one of my wonderful customers that her husband was down in CA trying to sell them clocks that looked a lot like mine.

i could hardly get off the couch for several days. devastated. hurt. angry. betrayed. kicking myself for not following my gut instinct and having her sign that non-compete!

i called to confront her. i wanted her to know that i knew what she was doing. that i hoped she thought about me and the fact that she was taking food out of my kid's mouths every time she made a clock. she instantly informed me that she was "doing nothing wrong" and that they had talked to a lawyer. Well, that right there says it all. Why talk to a lawyer if you don't have a guilty conscious? Maybe she wasn't doing anything "legally" wrong, just morally corrupt. 

but... funny thing is. this is what drove me to begin my adventures in China. i was already traveling over there designing a line for another company. up to this point i was very satisfied with having all our products made in the USA, and honestly quite proud of it. having my own and my employees livelihoods threatened pushed me past the fears and out of my comfort zone. and into a whole new world of opportunities. new price points, new materials and new friends in China.

i truly feel that God knew what it was going to take to get me over that hurdle. it was for my own good.

all that said. here we are at another crossroads. i wonder what's in store for us this time.

sorry. i just had to vent.
(and yes, we do have our attorney on it)

Comments

[Ronda Corey]

We live and learn, and learn to love. Kharma, sweet, sweet Kharma. Things have a way of working themselves out. Good luck and all my best wishes, Love, Me

[sonya paz]

Hey Michelle - I truly understand your frustration this happens to me too and the volume of this companys repros unnerve me to all ends.

Whats truly KILLS me on this photo is that there is a sign posted for "no photography" ...um... hello, what???

I hate when others say "flattery is a compliment" but I see this as a sad horrible ripoff.

I too would have my attorneys on this.

[sonya paz]

Hey Michelle and others here on this thread. It does not matter one bit if you post photos to your site or not, publish images in a catalog or blog about your product and it is most likely NOT a leak in the factory.

If the person really wants to steal your designs or look they will BUY YOUR products - take it to a factory and copy. It is as simple as that.

It does not matter to the person who is sealing, they get the product however they can, they find a way to do it.

Unfortunately, US copyright laws do not allow you to trademark or copy a "style" only the exact artwork or product. The inspired theory is a fine line - all they need to do is change up something slightly and viola. It's Done.

This has been going on for decades, large manufacturers like Gucci, Prada, Coka Cola, the large manufactuers have legal teams JUST to coonquer these types of fraud. It's very sad and hurtful.

I have dealt with this more times than I wish to say and have to come to my realization that your clients and customers will know what is true and ethical.

((getting off soapbox now))....

[Gina]

I hate seeing this. How anyone can sleep at night when they steal total ideas and can't even strain enough to SLIGHTLY make it look more original is BEYOND me!!! It makes me so mad. As an artist myself I know how hard I work on my little things I make I'd be fuming if someone copied them. *hugs*

[Anne Leuck Feldhaus]

So sorry to hear this Michele, I've run into it myself, but of course not to this degree. Trust in the karma and I would tell you to look for that silver lining, but you instinctively do that, which I love about you!

[deb]

I don't even know what to say.. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. Sending hugs!

[Kimberly Kelly Santini]

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, although it's a bitter pill to swallow. This is what I learned when confronted with a similar situation:

You are defined by so much more than your work - relish in that. And, you have the power to raise the bar and create anew, while all these other lame-os can do is continue to copy and fall short.

Sending you some virtual chocolate to commisserate over. Karma seals all fates, but in the meanwhile, some of us develop more character.

[Isazapata]

Michelle, no worries, that's called Karma and they will pay one way or another...your art is unique, you transmit your energy in every piece and that cannot be copied. Keep doing such and inspiring work, art that comes from the heart stays for ever, knock offs come and go...!!!!!