Reference Archive

Fakes, Forgeries, & Knock-Offs: A Unique Opportunity to Make a Difference

from "Hake's Price Guide to Character Toys, 2nd Edition" authored by J. C. Vaughn

Reprinted with Permission of Ted Hake
Visit Hake's Americana http://www.hakes.com

The good news is the professionals still aren't fooled. Despite the challenges posed by today's knock-off artists and their technology, seasoned dealers and collectors alike can still easily spot a fake. The bad news is we're not taking full advantage of the resources at our disposal. We've got the means to deal with our criminal element, but we've got to exercise the will to do so.

If you're knowledgeable and can spot a phony a mile away, you might think this doesn't concern you. If you think that way, you're wrong.

How would you feel if you knew someone was deliberately lowering the value of your collection? What would you think if you found out someone was stealing from you? Who would you talk to if you saw someone ripping off a fellow collector?

Each of these questions is much more than a "what if...?" scenario. Every day, some unsuspecting collector is duped into purchasing an item that isn't what it pretends to be, and for too long many other collectors have simply looked the other way.

Forgery is one of the--if not the--biggest problems faced by collectors today, but it's not only collectors who are cast under the shadowy specter of doubt. It's everywhere in modern society. Compact discs, famous paintings, stocks, bonds and hard currency have been the targets of high-tech mimicry.

Much of this stems from the rapid growth in graphics technology. Color reproduction is an area where "state-of-the-art" is yesterday's news. There are now continual upgrades in computer software and hardware, and these advancements are creating a progression of opportunities for those who would rather steal than create.

Despite the best efforts of insurance companies, we've all heard the stories of paintings which have turned out to be fakes. Wall Street has tried to keep it hushed, but stocks and bonds have been illegally reproduced like never before. On the macroeconomic level, Federal authorities have uncovered attempts by other nations to erode our currency with massive counterfeiting (hence the new $100.00 bill).

If a country is willing to potentially take on the entire United States, it should be no surprise then that some jerk from Podunk is willing to scam us or our fellow collectors.

This is a problem, potentially a serious one, but it is a problem we can deal with.

In fact, we already have the means to stop this sort of thing. There is a relationship between publishers, producers and fans unlike any other area of society. The many magazines, newspapers, other publications and conventions which thrive in our fields are fueled by the desires of collectors...and more importantly, by regular interaction with them.

There isn't a comic book show, antique show, or toy show that goes on in any portion of the country where there isn't an expert nearby who would be willing to donate his or her time to stopping the spread of unauthorized replicas. This is a challenge across the industry, and it should cut straight across the boundaries of rival publishers, dealers and collectors.

Imagine it this way: a young collector, someone new to the hobby but really excited about it, plunks down $30.00 for Cerebus #1. He may be new, but he's seen the book in "Comics Buyer's Guide" or "The Overstreet Comic Book Guide" for much more than that and he knows a good buy when he sees one.

When the young collector finds out later from a veteran collector that it's an imitation, he is only out $30.00, but the hobby loses at least a degree of his enthusiasm. The next time he sees a great deal, even a perfectly legitimate one, he will hesitate. Perhaps he will pass it up entirely. And then an honest dealer will lose out on that collector's money. Not only does the young collector get swindled, but so does the next dealer he deals with. So does that dealer's family. So, in turn, do the businesses where they spend their money.

Further, the copyright owners get ripped off because they are not paid their royalties. The employees of the copyright owners lose because their company missed out on money it was due. Their families miss out on money the wage earner would have brought home. The retailers who their families patronize lose out, too.

Don't fall into the trap of imagining some faceless corporation. These are real people who are being affected.

Perhaps it's time for a uniform standard, a code of ethics or some similar statement which publishers and dealers alike can propose together and sign. The first step, though, is don't panic. We can deal with this.

Deal with collectors and dealers who have earned your trust. Look for unconditional guarantees of authenticity. Find out what a potential trading partner's reputation is from more than one source, and support the folks you know stick to the high road. 200205