[The SwiftChancelor]

Originally Posted by Mud

I don't think anyone is saying not to buy something made in China. It's not that at all. We all know the Camaro is made in Canada with parts sourced all over the world.

I think what they're saying is someone in China is making a identical copy of a product that someone else took a lot of time, money, engineering, and their own hard work to sell as their own.

Let's say you spent the good part of a year writing the lyrics and music for an album. You record all the songs. You send your buddy a demo disc. And within three months, you hear one of your songs being played on the radio.

You wouldn't be pissed? That's OK to do? Steal someone else's hard work, intellectual property and claim it as your own? Someone else makes money off of YOUR work?

If OBX did copy this design and now sells it for half price because someone else did all the hard work, then yes, I would think that's morally repugnant, unethical, and in fact, criminal. Trying to work these things through the courts is much more difficult than if it were someone you were trying to prosecute in the U.S. alone. There's a whole other set of hoops and obstacles to go through involving a different country.

I understand the OP's reason for trying to buy headers at a discount price. They do seem pricey and back in the day, the Hedman headers on my Chevelle (even adjusted for inflation) only cost a couple hundred bucks.

Is it his responsibility to exhaust every avenue to determine if the product he's buying is not a ripoff of someone else's design? That seems to be the question.

Typically, when one gets a good look at counterfeit merchandise, say shoes that say "Nike" , copies of those expensive purses and clothing brands, a fake Rolex, there's a reason why it's so cheap. Because it is of inferior quality and they are violating all kinds of laws.

I'm not saying that a good pair of Headers can't be made for a good price. Doug Thorley makes a good header at a good price.

But if someone willingly pays for a watch they KNOW is a cheap knock off of the authentic item, then yes, that's wrong in my opinion. But I don't shave any one else's face in the mirror but mine. They have to look at themselves.

Wow, so long I couldn't read the whole thing. Thats whats bad about posting messages this long but anyways. I get what your saying but you can't compare someone stealing your song and its on the radio before yours comes out because headers are clearly different. Theres lots of headers that look similar and I've never doubted that the OBX is a copied product I just believe you have a right to decide what you want American or Chinese, crap or a great product. If they stole their idea they should do something about it, if not or if they can't then maybe try a redesign to distance yourself from the Chinese product. I don't know what to tell you guys, knock off or not, people like them and are working for them.