"Knock off" Merchandise is NOT OK EVER!

OK, here is an eye opener and a good "vent" for me.

KNOCK OFF MERCHANDISE

An article to read: NYC CAMPAIGN SHOWS DARK SIDE OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS

It is just so wrong in every way.
1. The original designer/owner of this product OWNS it, it could be their livelihood, the way they feed their kids and support their family and it's NOT OK for someone to steal it and use it for their own selfish gain.
2. It supports child labor and abuse in third world countries.
3. The owner paid big $$ to copyright or patent their invention/idea and illegal copying violates these laws.

and so on!

I belong to a swap group that exchanges tangible goods for $$ value, but no money and a member has been offering knock off designer purses and I couldn't take it anymore so I contacted her, the group leader (who regularly enforces law-abiding practices), a few people who have grabbed them and told them that I felt it was bad practice to swap these items, it gives value to them and the industry is illegal etc. Here is her response:

Becky, these are purses my friend has given to me over the years and its not illegal...if i cant use all the purses i get i would rather have others enjoy them. If you have a problem and referring to me, you should be dealing with me. You are not obligated to grab anything like this and i have purchased from others also and paid the price that is much more affordable then the real things. I know many that have loved them

First, I can't believe that a friend would give another friend THAT many purses, she's listed like 30 of them, she has to be buying them for cheap and then trading them at a mark up. Second YES IT IS ILLEGAL. No matter which level you enter into the process of selling / buying / trading illegal goods, it is still ILLEGAL!! and "the price that is much more affordable then the real things." besides the improper English used there, because you WANT something and can't really afford it, doesn't make it OK to support this industry either! WAKE UP PEOPLE, you can't have everything and resorting to illegal ways to obtain it, doesn't make it right.

I may not be obligated to grab them, but I AM obligated to make people aware of what they are contributing to if they participate in this industry.

pay it forward.