In some ways unlicensed aka counterfeit cards have become a way of life. At one point they mainly seemed to be based on shows that would never get a non-sport set — like Avatar.
Today unlicensed cards are being sold right along side their legitimate counterparts. In just a few minutes of searching I found cards that infringed on the licensing deals put together by Topps, Rittenhouse Archives, Upper Deck and Cryptozoic. The really said part is that these are now selling for decent money $15-30 isn’t uncommon. The Spider-Man costume card shown here brought over $100! At least the prop cards have some minute intrinsic value in a small piece of a prop, but the ‘autograph prints’ for $30? Please — anyone paying real money for these must think they are legitimate cards (I’ve heard from several folks who have been snookered by these con artists).
Sadly it doesn’t seem like the manufacturers are doing anything about it. As a collector my complaints to eBay go wholly unnoticed (or ignored), so I don’t even bother anymore. Manufacturers are in the position to complain, and it is their brand that is being damaged, so why aren’t they speaking out about it? Why don’t I see warnings on manufacturer sites pointing out counterfeits, or an email address so send counterfeit alerts to. . . or anything.
While I’m sure the manufacturers do care, they don’t show it. And their apparent apathy on the subject almost validates the cards in an ‘if they don’t care about it it must be ok’ sort of way.
The newest thing I’ve seen — gold stamped/sealed counterfeit cards similar to Ink Vault. Manufacturers please make it stop!
Here are just a few of the newer offenders. . . there are tons and tons out there.
Jon
Jon this is scary……………… :o(
Comment by Delia Avila — May 25, 2011 @ 10:01 pm
It makes me think about Halloween costumes. It can still say “Authentic costume piece” and be true, yet misleading.
Comment by banditwolf — May 26, 2011 @ 9:54 pm
I’m not shocked (after the fact) that these are being made, though I had no idea they were out there. Have you tried to email RA or Cryptozoic? I doubt you’d hear anything from Topps or UD, but I’d hope Mr. Charendoff would call attention to the issue.
Comment by Steve — May 26, 2011 @ 10:44 pm
the manufacturers do care and report this abuse but it is the licensor that has to do something and go after and stop these people.stop blaming the manufacturers they are not to blame.
Comment by tom — June 1, 2011 @ 8:35 am
Hi Tom (Breyer)-
At no point do I blame the manufacturer. I asked:
“why aren’t they (manufacturers) speaking out about it? Why don’t I see warnings on manufacturer sites pointing out counterfeits, or an email address so send counterfeit alerts to. . . or anything.
While I’m sure the manufacturers do care, they don’t show it. And their apparent apathy on the subject almost validates the cards in an ‘if they don’t care about it it must be ok’ sort of way.”
There is no blame. Just pointing out the viewpoint of the collectors . . as as it says above — if the manufacturers don’t show the collectors that they care, and the licensor doesn’t do anything about it — that just legitimizes these cards.
Jon
Comment by Anonymous — June 1, 2011 @ 8:51 am
It’s middling rife in the sport world too. What they’ve got that entertainment cards don’t? Player unions and licensors with enormous stables of attack lawyers on standby LOOKING for copyright infringement. Think a movie studio with a billion dollar property is going to chase a few hundred bucks? Not likely. But a player’s union will hound some chozer to the ends of the earth for unauthorized use of a player’s image.
Comment by quincy — June 2, 2011 @ 9:15 pm
I have seen a bunch of these posted on ebay that are “Jeff Bridges Tron Autographs.” I kept seeing them and wondering why Disney (who I have always thought of as psycho about their licenses) never went after these scam artists.
Comment by anjee — June 9, 2011 @ 10:31 pm
While Team Rodent are notoriously psychotic, their special attention usually goes first to those who might tarnish their image (for example, those who provide rule 34 material), next to those who cost them money directly in order of most to least. The Bridges counterfeits are gonna amount to what, a few thousand dollars? From a movie that’s netted somewhere in the $400M mark worldwide…even if you call it $10K on those Bridges counterfeits, that’s around 0.0025% of the gross on that movie. They don’t care. They’d rather go after someone who’s going to cost them DVD or merch sales.
Comment by quincy — June 9, 2011 @ 11:43 pm
Webjon, you must understand eBay don’t care about things unless a millionaire demand is over them. Last year, I reported a shill bidder. eBay didn’t do anything. Just send me a “bot” answer. I learned it.
About these non-licensed items. I saw a lot of Twilight items in eBay.
About the manufactures. It is easy. They don’t care about the situation. Now if your opinion about their product is like it is “trash/crap/a loss of money”, they will try do anything. Even get “know” people or a media to write that everything is okay and you are a “terrorist of the hobby”.
Comment by Kane1 — June 29, 2011 @ 4:42 pm
These 2 cards on ebay seems to be the same card. One has a bid on it.
# 300629905002
# 220906612592
Comment by Anonymous — December 3, 2011 @ 1:04 pm