Why should I avoid reselling knockoffs of patented products?

Anyone who profits from infringement is subject to damages.  This includes resellers and service bureaus even though they did not actually create a product.

This motivates reputable resellers to work with original inventors.

How a reseller can determine if a product is a copycat:

• Products that are described as the patented or patent pending original only better without explanation.
• Often undercut prices because they only intend to maintain a shallow commitment to warranty, training, and support
• Non-standard warranty or return policy – copycats are unconcerned about brand reputation
• Absence of training

If a reseller sells a patent-infringing product they participate in damages to the original inventor.  This is why reputable resellers prefer to work with original inventors.

A second telltale is low prices.  Copycats generally participate in a hit and run marketing use price competition to gain market share.

During this period imitators freely infringe on patent-pending products knowing that when the patent issues they’ll just go out of business and go copy something else.  This is common with LiveO2 copycats.

See Also

• About Patents
• About Trademarks