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Menuhin
104
Jul 21, 2017
An exact copycat of Hot Keys Project (HKP) popular design. "... From the brains behind the Dark Lord Helmet, Mutated Ninjas, and Shotgun keycaps comes these detailed two-toned caps. ..." Possibly these 'brains' find the OEM factory of HKP, and are not even shameful to sell the exact design to take over HKP customers.
These brains, please do something more useful than bringing down the price and capturing your market share with other people's idea. Many will be thankful for you bringing cheap price, but please, you these "brains" can do better. Please introduce your new designs, created by your brains.
KangTheMad
127
Jul 21, 2017
MenuhinSo? Did they patent the color? It's capitalism
Menuhin
104
Jul 21, 2017
KangTheMadBBv2 and Clack are not patented either, so are many others like the KK's Kostranauts and ETF's Fugus. HiddenLab is not the only gang creating HHKB artisan caps, there is almost one new small scale group buy for HHKB mods every other 2 weeks on /r/MM - why can they all create their own very unique work?
When something looks close, we understand it can be "inspired"; when something looks close enoug, we can tell it is basically a knock-off, a copy.
ChuckDee
1906
Jul 22, 2017
MenuhinThe internal framework looks different, especially on the space bars, at least to me.
https://www.hotkeysproject.com/
KangTheMad
127
Jul 22, 2017
MenuhinI don't see the problem. Either they patent it or don't. So another person can come around and make more. If people want to buy it but can't from the original then they'll get it elsewhere. It's just economics
ChuckDee
1906
Jul 22, 2017
KangTheMadIt can be difficult and expensive to enforce a patent. At these volumes, it would cost more to litigate the patent than they probably make.
https://www.cnet.com/news/how-much-is-that-patent-lawsuit-going-to-cost-you/
And that's if it's even granted. It's better business all around to just respect others' creations. But that's not the world we live in.
KangTheMad
127
Jul 22, 2017
ChuckDeeGuess we just disagree. If there's 2 competitors offering a similar product consumers will decide which ones the best either by price or quality. Having more options is never a bad thing.
LevelSteam
Jul 22, 2017
KangTheMadI agree with you. This isn't someone ripping off an artisan design like what happened with that cat keycap a little while back, and if these guys were ripping off the trooper/raven/tank artisans from HKP I'd probably feel differently. As it stands though it's just a blank two-tone keycap with a clear top and opaque bottom. It's like getting upset because Varmilo and Vortex both make dyesub PBT caps in the same colors.
ChuckDee
1906
Jul 22, 2017
KangTheMadI didn't say whether I agreed or disagreed. I'm just telling the reality of it.
MrTym
33
Hidden Lab
Jul 23, 2017
MenuhinIf you knew the history of HKP you'd be aware that HKP has stolen alot more than just designs from Hidden Lab.
BlueCrowned
5305
Jul 23, 2017
MrTymCurious what happened here if you're willing to elaborate.
MrTym
33
Hidden Lab
Jul 23, 2017
BlueCrownedThere is a post put out on the internet somewhere, but I dont really want to sling mud here, I'm just not a massive fan of being wrongly called out.
At one stage the founder of Hidden Labs worked with HKP, and one of the parts included HKP selling a large number goods he said we're being destroyed (failed QC etc) and effectively stole money as they were splitting profits. There is a lot more too it, but like I said, not the time or the place.
Menuhin
104
Jul 26, 2017
MrTymWhat is the history of HKP? Give us some pointers and let us know more, otherwise these claims are not concrete.
Regardless, stealing designs is the behaviour that you can endorse because a few people have done it? So you are friends of K3KC alike? With such attitude, makers can go on to produce Clacks, BBv1, BBv2, Fugu, whatever they can get their hands on and make a copy successfully.
Menuhin
104
Jul 26, 2017
MrTymSo this - selling HKP's branded bestseller design at a quarter of the price on MassDrop - is like a revenge for you (I just realize a moment ago that you are from Hidden Lab) now?
Interesting...
BlueCrowned
5305
Jul 26, 2017
Menuhinstuff like FUGU is worlds away from a two tone keycap that anyone could come up with
Menuhin
104
Jul 26, 2017
BlueCrownedComing up with something that accidentally resembles the designs of some other people is one thing. Manufacturing with a deliberated intent to look like a specific design is another matter, and the intent in this case is obvious.
It would be already more of an "inspired" design than an obvious copycat-to-common-eyes if: 1. This drop has only the green-black and the blue-black. or 2. The two-tone is translucent red with lighter grey color.
And again, taking revenge is yet another story. Time for some coffee.
ChuckDee
1906
Jul 26, 2017
MenuhinWhat is your intent in continuing this? They've already said this is neither the time nor place for such discussions, and I tend to agree. Looking at the two, there are significant differences in the reinforcement particularly. And the drop is over, and because of MD's commenting system, no one in future drops will bring it forth.
Menuhin
104
Jul 26, 2017
ChuckDee. 1. I have stopped indeed and the above was the last reply - because I agreed with "... this is neither the time nor place for such discussions..."; 2. I didn't notice the drop is already over, but about the "significant differences" you can also say K3KC's work is "significantly different" from Bro Cap's work, it's all relative you know you have the freedom to provide your judgement of differences and similarities. 3. I don't think MD will care about what was discussed above.
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