Unbox Therapy accused of copying PITAKA phone case, copyright abuse & fake giveaways

[Derangel]

They both look like completely generic cases that you could find from one of those mall kiosks that sell dozens of crap cases imported from China. Lew likely either bought the cases from somewhere like Alibaba or direct from whichever Chinese factory PITAKA uses to make their cases.

[minibois]

Other than the pattern on my back (which I also have on part of my phone case, not from that phone case brand), how can you really differ in terms of phone case form?

 

You first off start with a mold of something around the phone.. add a little protection around the parts where you need it (e.g. around the perimeter of the screen and corners) and remove excess (around ports and buttons).

Now you either design it further, or stop and apply a pattern like these two products have done.

 

They could have designed these cases entirely independent of each other, slapped the same material on the back (which is a very common pattern, coincidentally in the same direction) and marked it up by 2000% or more.

 

I'm gonna need to see substantial proof (or rather the court I guess) the phone case brand actually designed this and where they differ from the Chinese norm.

 

As of now, it feels like a phone case brand seeing someone have the same/similar design and see they (Lew/Unbox Therapy) are a larger entity and just want to ride off the popularity of drama.

[mr moose]

1 hour ago, Derangel said:

They both look like completely generic cases that you could find from one of those mall kiosks that sell dozens of crap cases imported from China. Lew likely either bought the cases from somewhere like Alibaba or direct from whichever Chinese factory PITAKA uses to make their cases.

That's what I think,  given how common the Chinese designs are (where the only difference is the sticker the buyer requests) it really isn't hard to believe that they both happened to use the same manufacturing agent and because they both requested the same material they got the same product.  Unless other evidence surfaces this is the most likely explanation.   The reason we don't see Cigweld (ESAB) suing Ozito or hobart over their wire feed welders is because they are all Chinese designs and not actually the product of those companies.   Same with P.A speakers,  amplifiers home audio, a large amount of tools on  Ebay and harbor freight.  

 

Frankly if this is the situation then who can blame unboxed for pulling down all the videos regarding pitaka.    Trying to ruin someones reputation for having the audacity to import a generic Chinese product is a pretty low thing to do.

 

Mind you if evidence appears that it isn't a generic Chinese product (that I have seen several of from different makers already) then I would say suck shit to unboxed because I don't like him and that's what you get.

[TechyBen]

23 hours ago, Arika S said:

as soon as i saw the video, my first response was: "he did not make this..."

I was under the impression he was working with a company, like buying bulk from Aliexpress, or working with a store/customiser like LTT do... but if the warehouse/customiser sells to Unbox AND Pitaka, it's not Lews problem... but not cool of him to pretend they are !my" designs, if just Aliexpress bulk orders (he could add value with custom art/quality control still, so I don't care about price/labelling).

[Arika]

13 minutes ago, TechyBen said:

but if the warehouse/customiser sells to Unbox AND Pitaka, it's not Lews problem

that's what i originally thought to, but like i said in a previous post, the fact he hid/deleted the Pitaka case review video is essentially him admitting that he knew and therefore loses all credibility

[Trik'Stari]

On 12/5/2019 at 5:01 AM, Lathlaer said:

I just hope it will not end up like Caselabs against Thermaltake.

 

(Yes, that is an extreme example of how relying on court decision to form your opinion can be misleading ;-))

That's an extreme example of "how to let your company go out of business and screw over your customers, because you refused to partner with another company to make your products more accessible".

 

totally not butthurt at all about my inability to get parts for my SMA8 magnum.

[Trik'Stari]

31 minutes ago, VegetableStu said:

"make with us or we'll outmake you to your death"? ._.

That's essentially what happened.

 

I'm just pissed because I can't get the side mount lower section drive cages for this machine. I could have some made, but I'd also need to have the damned mount for them made.

 

Damn you Caselabs, damn you for going out of business and leaving me fucked over. I wish someone would at least release blueprints for all their parts so we could at least have them custom made.

[TechyBen]

1 hour ago, Arika S said:

that's what i originally thought to, but like i said in a previous post, the fact he hid/deleted the Pitaka case review video is essentially him admitting that he knew and therefore loses all credibility

Possibly. Might also be a false copyright claim against his channel. Without knowing if he REALLY did work with the company for his custom "clips" (IIRC from his video), then that's the bit where he deceived people. "I curated the best product" vs "I designed the best product" is lying absolutely, but we need to be clear where he lied (he did not for example promise a Unicorn. ).

 

[goodtofufriday]

2 minutes ago, TechyBen said:

Possibly. Might also be a false copyright claim against his channel. Without knowing if he REALLY did work with the company for his custom "clips" (IIRC from his video), then that's the bit where he deceived people. "I curated the best product" vs "I designed the best product" is lying absolutely, but we need to be clear where he lied (he did not for example promise a Unicorn. ).

 

Video was deleted the day before his supposed case came out. 

[TechyBen]

2 minutes ago, goodtofufriday said:

Video was deleted the day before his supposed case came out. 

The plot thickens.

 

[Mnky313]

On 12/5/2019 at 5:20 AM, Arika S said:

as soon as i saw the video, my first response was: "he did not make this..."

Yeah, my immediate thought was 'wait, doesn't a case almost exactly like this already exist?' A family friend had one for their 6s like 3 years ago... Looked exactly the same, ultra thin, carbon fibre look...

[MageTank]

5 hours ago, minibois said:

Other than the pattern on my back (which I also have on part of my phone case, not from that phone case brand), how can you really differ in terms of phone case form?

I was thinking the exact same thing. Most cases are designed for a specific model of phone, so the cutouts for the camera, power, volume and charging areas are all going to be nearly identical to maintain base functionality of the device. Aside from those areas, you will want to protect the phone as much as possible, so it's safe to assume the others will all be mold-fitted around the entirety of the phone. It's extremely difficult to differentiate from a basic protective shape of a given phone, unless you offer features like removable plastic plugs for charging/audio ports, and other creature comforts like kick stands. The pattern used on both of these cases also exists on cases elsewhere in the market, so I doubt you can consider their specific use of the same pattern/shape to be a blatant copy.

 

The real shady part of this story is the allegations that UT is hiding videos prior to launching this product, and potentially copyright striking any criticism.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

5 hours ago, VegetableStu said:

this aspect i'm more intrigued of, because there are vehicle companies out there who depend on AI to recursively iterate a design for aerodynamics. imagine if they all end up with similar physical designs o_o

It's called "Formula 1", no need for imagination

 

 

5 hours ago, minibois said:

They could have designed these cases entirely independent of each other

In a world where the YT channel never made a review of the other case and later removed it before launching its own case, yes, it could have been entirely independent... But in this one...?

 

 

[Lynx]

Well, it could easily end well if he's not acting suspicious. I mean, if you stand by what you said, your design, etch, why you go so far as to remove your old video about the PITAKA case and that stupid copyright strike?, if he didn't do that, and just stick with his reasoning that he didn't satisfied with the current options available, he could easily gone through it without the stupid controversy. But heck, it's a massive free advertising!, which could be something someone wanted in the first place.

[Orcblood]

10 hours ago, cpenchoen said:

Good summary video for those that don't want to read through everything. 

 

 

I find it funny (and a little annoying from the self righteousness displayed) how youtubers are popping up who analysis and critic other bigger youtubers of their channel & drama. 

[Lathlaer]

31 minutes ago, Orcblood said:

I find it funny (and a little annoying from the self righteousness displayed) how youtubers are popping up who analysis and critic other bigger youtubers of their channel & drama.

Analyzing and reaction videos is how you get traction as a small time youtuber.

 

I can't count all the small 5-15k sub channels that flooded my recommended YT tab with reactions to the Verge build.

[Yoinkerman]

Ofc it's a factory rebrand it's literally what everyone does

[Zando_]

11 hours ago, amdorintel said:

it most likely is

 

and its probably a counterfeit piece made with toxic materials

Pretty sure dbrand skins are toxic too, never seen them saying you should eat the vinyl and adhesive skins. And this is a case, not a skin, and dbrand's case that you can put skins on is quite different, this really isn't similar to a dbrand skin in any other way than the texture, which is just standard carbon fiber-esque stuff. 

[-rascal-]

Seems like both parties are just rebranding the same Fuyao factory phone case

 

You can only vary a phone case design so much...

Hey! my OnePlus 6T McLaren has the same "carbon fiberous" case, too...

 

 

[Bombastinator]

15 hours ago, SenKa said:

Is it accusation if it's fact?

There is truthful accusation and false accusation.  If the truth of the accusation has not been determined it’s called an allegation.  That is why you hear the word “alleged” so much regarding legal things.

[Letgomyleghoe]

On 12/5/2019 at 1:48 AM, Rohith_Kumar_Sp said:

 

 

Unbox Therapy's The Latercase:

 

 

 

PITAKA's MagEZ case:

 

Read more:

https://reclaimthenet-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/reclaimthenet.org/unbox-therapy-latercase-pitaka-case-controversy/

its a carbon fiber patern phone case for the iphone 11 i dont think they can really make a claim except that they used the same print and its for an iphone 11

[Arika]

6 minutes ago, scuff gang said:

its a carbon fiber patern phone case for the iphone 11 i dont think they can really make a claim except that they used the same print and its for an iphone 11

Where the design of the print is in the exact same spot in each product?

For example how the brighter strip just barely grazes the bottom right corner of the camera cut out. You can follow it all the way around.

[Letgomyleghoe]

1 minute ago, Arika S said:

Where the design of the print is in the exact same spot in each product?

For example how the brighter strip just barely grazes the bottom right corner of the camera cut out. You can follow it all the way around.

i wish it had a side view so i could see the buttons but i dont think theyres enough to sue

[spartaman64]

probably they just source from the same manufacturer on alibaba but its still a bit weird for him to claim that he made it. is that false advertisement?

[SpaceGhostC2C]

20 hours ago, cpenchoen said:

Good summary video for those that don't want to read through everything. 

 

(...)

Includes Skype conversation with Pitaka CEO.

I got to watch this now... LOL

I don't know whether patent claims are valid or will hold up in court, but regardless, this youtuber guy is on his way to Billy McFarland levels of bullshit... 

 

Next thing you know, we'll have Linus saying "I've never liked tool kits, so I went and make my own"... and half his videos go private

Spoiler