illegal Playmobil items at Japan !

[Customizer]

Hello Friends,

today i found this:

A cheap Playmobil copy !! 

I wrote a mail to Playmobil about this !

gentle greets

Andi

[Richard]

I wonder if the quality of plastic is as good as what Playmobil uses?

Thanks, Andi ...

[matchboxluc]

I don't think they are meant as pure toys, more like a decoration on those ink stamps. I wouldn't worry too much about it...
Besides, if Playmobil was to react on every toy with similar properties that is on the market they would do overtime. I remember the fuss about the Airgamboys in the Netherlands, that already had a roman theme of their own, even before Playmobil considered of creating their romans and the Airgamboys had to be pulled out of the stores as a result. Several months later Playmobil launched their romans, with accessories that looked quite like the ones from Airgamboys. It may be harsh to say, but in this case I found Playmobil a bit hypocritical. But that is my opinion...

[cachalote]

i don't agree with matchboxluc.
i tend to view copyright as an important issue.
maybe that's because i have a creative activity (i am an architect).
to create a toy like playmobil you have to make an incredible effort in time and resources - it's quite unfair to just copy it without any kind of trouble.
it's almost the same as with the mp3 downloads - a musician creates an original theme and he has the right to profit with it.
i think you can (and should) argue about the prices - but that doesn't mean you should endanger the intelectual ownership (i am translating the portuguese expression) of the designers.
 

[Morgan]

It may be harsh to say, but in this case I found Playmobil a bit hypocritical. But that is my opinion...

I agree to this. Copyright or not, one must accept that there will always be toys, names, themes and products that looks like the original. It might be hard to proof that the products are rip-off, and if it cannot be proved, I think the consumers should benefit from a high variation of products.