Yea it is unfortunate that our business society works out that way for the original designer if a patent is not acquired, but that is the American way. If there is a demand, then someone is going to fill the gap left by the lack of supply. Bottom line is that this is a battle between UE and whoever else is copying his designs. If UE were to come out and ask for support from the R.C community by boycoting them and only buying his original UE products as a gesture of good faith, then I am sure that most everyone would jump onboard to support UE in return for UE support, don't you think? That is the problem right there. There is no support from UE and if you ask Robin for parts or info as to when they will be available you either get no response at all, or nasty responses and excuses, so it is no wander this problem exists in the first place. I know from first hand about trying to reason with him about getting their stocks refilled and reproducing the lightning chassis, but all you get back is "mind your own business", because he does not share company secrets. What kind of customer support is that? He claims that most of his stuff is just too expensive to re-make anymore, so if someone else wants to supply the R/C gap by making knock offs, then at least we have something to work with, and it is not illegal. So knowing all of this the arguement is mute.
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Originally Posted by Duster_360
When I bought the setbacks from BT, they were advertised as UE. Only reason I would consider paying that kind of money for them. BT'ss advertising has since been changed so you know they are not UE.
What he is selling though still trades on the rep of the UE originals. I wouldn't be surprised that the guy making them is doubling his costs and BT is doing the same as well. $125 is still overpriced for a pr of UE knockoff setbacks even if they are 7075 T6.
As far as someone copying them to fill the void, it might be legal, but I don't see stealing someone else's intellectual property as ethical, period.
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