FAKES..

[PGowdy]

Yeah but the discussion here wasn't about the ToysRUs Fett being a copy of the vintage Fett it was about Mark Poon doing copies/repros similar to the ToysRUs Fett. It was more the legal implications of doing such a close copy and most RS collectors being ok with that but then he produces these Stormies off the back of that success... and so the discussion went on, i can't be bothered to go over it all again. :wink: That's the gist.

 

[DarthSwales]

Yeah but the discussion here wasn't about the ToysRUs Fett being a copy of the vintage Fett it was about Mark Poon doing copies of the ToysRUs Fett. It was more the legal implications of doing such a close copy and most RS collectors being ok with that but then he produces these Stormies off the back of that success... and so the discussion went on, i can't be bothered to go over it all again. :wink: That's the gist.

Ahh my bad, although if he's copied the ToysRus ones then surely they'll still have the same distinctive features? I dunno, I've only just learnt about Mark Poon since I'm still fairly new to this hobby. :lol:

 

[tiefighterboy]

He copied the vintage one and added the rocket firing feature.

 

[DarthSwales]

Well that just makes him even more of a noob then. Surely it breaches the copyright terms anywho?

 

[Frunkstar]

Now on ebay & they do have the Hong Kong COO :?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160712479186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1321wt_1272

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Vintage-Star-Wars-Shadow-Blackhole-Stormtrooper-Army-Trooper-Builder-Set-/160712482652?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256b35df5c#ht_1345wt_1272

looks like fake city headed our way guys

 

[itfciain]

FFS that is terrible news - that Mark Poon should be banned from all things Star Wars

 

[itfciain]

Little bit of digging but I reckon this might actually be his ebay account - lots of repro's sold and saw this in the feedback

Neutral feedback rating Advertisement lied about location stated US but in signapore otherwise good item
Member ID kneighthawke ( Feedback score of 288Teal star icon for Feedback score between 100 to 499)
07-Nov-11 03:02
1:1 Star Wars Medal of Yavin Prop Replica Shiny Finish (#160640370767) US $55.00 View Item

 

[DarthSwales]

Is it even legal to sell reproductions of copyrighted items? :?

 

[PGowdy]

It kind of is and it kind of isn't. There are several grey areas and it's a discussion way more complicated than the one at hand.
If you're gonna build a Millenium Falcon, for example, out of wood, at home and sell it on ebay as something you've knocked up yourself.- i don't think anyone's really gonna complain. But what we are talking about here is intentional, exact, replicas of vintage toys and figures. Mark Poon is in no way attempting to make something similar to a vintage toy with his own spin on it, or even a vintage replica with a clear difference or indication that it is a replica. What Mark is doing is attempting [and succeeding it seems] to 100% accurately copy a vintage toy and, altho it's not been confirmed yet, i would bet everything i own on him having put a vintage date and stamp on those minty stormtroopers he produced. To suggest this was done with even an ounce of naivety is, it itself, completely naive.
That's all.

 

[Frunkstar]

I am considering buying 4 so I can take detailed photos so as to help both myself & the community know the differences in these if there are any, but to answer your question Pete, I think they have a standard HK COO

 

[aussiejames]

I am considering buying 4 so I can take detailed photos so as to help both myself & the community know the differences in these if there are any.... I think they have a standard HK COO

spend your money as you wish but they are in transit already & a full report/pictures will be made public as soon as they arrive.

 

[Frunkstar]

Good man James 8)

Edit - did I miss a post :?

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Really hope this is some sort of difference between these and orignals for everyones sake!

 

[ODB]

I just like the way some of the guys on RS where still willing to let the guy defend himself after it was obvious that he is in it for nothing other than his own profit. Its sad because it not only shows that the likes of Mark Poon are hugely selfish but many other collectors are only interested in their own collections and goals. Do you think Lucasfilm would be interested in someone making reproductions of their creations?

 

[tiefighterboy]

I just like the way some of the guys on RS where still willing to let the guy defend himself after it was obvious that he is in it for nothing other than his own profit. Its sad because it not only shows that the likes of Mark Poon are hugely selfish but many other collectors are only interested in their own collections and goals. Do you think Lucasfilm would be interested in someone making reproductions of their creations?

Only good counterfeiters are allowed on RS :lol: .....and yes, repo figures will be the end of loose figures...and do not depend on AFA....They can not even spot a repro weapon.

 

[itfciain]

I am amazed that no-one is really talking about it on RS - I know Mark Poon was their pet Repro guy but this is disgusting. I posted a link in one thread and the only direct response was that the link was against the rules !!

This is a joke and I can not see why this guy thinks that his items will be well received - for me this is purely a money making scheme

 

[tiefighterboy]

Here's where he works
http://www.hanksmold.com/Toys-and-die.html

 

[aussiejames]

Well after a day I was really hoping to have at least one way to tell these apart from the real thing.

The flex test (holding up Gus & Dunc's book )

BUT

a real figure bends just as much (if not more)

I'm not an 'official expert' but I've had a really good look over these figures & I'd bet grading fees, postage both ways & a carton of beer that these could be AFA/UKG graded.
Hopefully I'm wrong & we work out someway to tell these apart from the real thing.

 

[itfciain]

FFS - we all knew this was the case. This ****** should never be allowed on a star Wars forum again

 

[PGowdy]

Send one to AFA.

 

[Frunkstar]

Send one to AFA.

That's a bonza idea Pete!.

Got mine today as well as I wanted one in hand so I know what to look out for & TBH I am none the wiser in so doing, as James has already said, they are pretty much identical & not quite sure of any further tests that could be done to ascertain any subtle differences :?

Its rather strange having minty white stormies in hand though fake or not, if only he would get rid of the COO & replace it with REPRO indented it would be so much better for the hobby, but as already said many times over - a dark day for the hobby is looming I feel, as what's next on his **** list?

 

[Frunkstar]

Thought it may well be worth posting a close up of the COO for what little help it will be.

He has it so spot on its scary

I worked in a plastics factory as a kid & even saw moulds being cut, so have to say this level of detail is hard to get right, but he has it down to a fine art, if nothing else you have to respect the guys skill & attention to detail, not that that is of any comfort to us.

At least my son will be chuffed as he does not care if they are repro

 

[itfciain]

This is very bad news - It makes me so angry to see this sort of thing.

I have just had a right do with a guy on Ebay with regards to a sale - he says that everything is vintage and then when the weapons turn out to be repro he claims that he didn't know anything about them

These are going to find their way into the hobby very quickly and a load of people are going to be shifting them in huge numbers passing them off as vintage.

The guy is a disgrace and as I said earlier should never be welcomed onto the boards again.

I would applaud anyone with dummy ebay accounts to bid for as many of these things as possible and mess up the fuckers account

 

[aussiejames]

Frank can you feel any difference in the limb flexibility compared to a real one??
ps. if you have a UV/black light can you check if they 'glow' differently please.

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

This is devasting news. Would love to see one sent to AFA as Pete has said! :?

 

[tiefighterboy]

I am amazed that no-one is really talking about it on RS - I know Mark Poon was their pet Repro guy but this is disgusting. I posted a link in one thread and the only direct response was that the link was against the rules !!

This is a joke and I can not see why this guy thinks that his items will be well received - for me this is purely a money making scheme

http://forum.rebelscum.com/t1076090-7/

A few comments, but as they were well known as the biggest forum site against repros....it is amazing how some of them are silently sucking his dick.

 

[Frunkstar]

Frank can you feel any difference in the limb flexibility compared to a real one??
ps. if you have a UV/black light can you check if they 'glow' differently please.

I did have a black light but not any more, though I do plan on getting one again soon but the retina safe ones are expensive

TBH I have had a few of my vintage stormies out as I have a shed load of them already, but the plastic flexibility can vary quite a bit form figure to figure not just from coo to coo variation, so saying they are more flexible simply says nothing, seem about the same to TBH James, these need to be re coo'd with REPRO in large font IMO, if we could get him to do that it would be a great victory as we won't stop him selling them, so we IMO need to think about a way to make that a reality, my only idea is that anyone wanting these should sign a petition type thing & we forward it to him.

If enough collectors got behind this I think he may take note, as at the end of the day he wants to sell as many a he can & if convinced that he could sell a LOT more if marked clearly as REPRO rather than with vintage coo I think he would go for it.

We have to be realistic, the guy has invested heavily in this project & is NOT going to stop it unless convinced its in his best interest to do so - sad but true.

I am sure many many folks will go for these either way, its in that fact that we need to focus as bitching about how bad & wrong it is will get us nowhere, there are a lot of folks who simply don't care if they are repro, you only need to check the re-carded SW carded section on ebay to tell you that fact & there will no doubt be plenty of folks wanting them for army building & dioramas - if we can get enough names/orders together for one but only if marked as repro then he (if not a total moron) would have to listen?.

Otherwise we are fooked!

 

[Imperial nut]

Now on ebay & they do have the Hong Kong COO :?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160712479186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_1321wt_1272

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Vintage-Star-Wars-Shadow-Blackhole-Stormtrooper-Army-Trooper-Builder-Set-/160712482652?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256b35df5c#ht_1345wt_1272

looks like fake city headed our way guys

AHHH BOLLOX,,, ARSEHOLE,, WITH FAKE COO'S :evil:

 

[Imperial nut]

They are too good to be spotted and not everyone will have equipment to test or aunthenticate.. i am up for the petition and nice request to please mark em as repro..

But if Not A "denial of service type overload of his ebay account would be in order" as this will ruin collecting loose imperials.

 

[itfciain]

I'm all for anything that works Frank and would happily sign the petition. Trouble is, the guy is clearly not stupid. He could have done away will all the hassle if he had just marked them as repro. The fact that he didn't then doesn't fill me with hope that he will now.