miles Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 guys, relax. it's not just rota. there are tons of wheel companies that make wheels that look alike. montegi racing 7 ALT "Seven" Advan Model 7 Koennig Tantrum they're all the damned same! it's not just rota, its' the entire industry. dR +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Sorry for hyjacking this post. So lets get back to Rota's copy of the Prodrive GC-010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDork Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 the tarmac iii is 18x8 and the spoke design is slightly different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamajack Posted April 26, 2006 Share Posted April 26, 2006 Miles. Yes, I do belive Rota copied the deisgn. That's what they do. They copy wheel designs, and do a good job at it. Sometimes their design is lighter than the original. But, there are differences that if you look closely you can see. They are there, bigger on some than others. What I was saying is if you cant tell then get the cheaper ones. Thats what I plan to do. I have a set of Work Emotion wheels and people keep asking me if they are Rotas. I like my Works, but I think i would like a set of beater style wheels too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 -----Original Message----- From: Miles Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 20062:05 PM To: sales@bbs-usa.com Subject: Rota Copy of BBS RE Wheel Hello, My question is: - is there a copyright/patent on the BBS RE wheel design? - why can Rota sell the "Formula Mesh Wheel" which is a copy of the BBS RE wheel? - look at the Rota wheel http://subydude.com/osc/product_info.php/cPath/220_21_158/products_id/262?osCsid=2943873cfccca6ace98d0f8ec1fa3e9c --------------- Thank You! Doug From: Michael Cox [mailto:michael@bbs-usa.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 20065:54 PM To: Miles Subject: RE: Rota Copy of BBS RE Wheel Hi Doug, We've seen the Rota wheel (and others, Aghhhh!). We forward them to our attorney to go after them. You can have a wheel design that's close but there has to be a certain percentage of the wheel that's different. That one looks like they made a mold from our wheel! Copies, they drive us crazy! Thanks for the e-mail. Regards, Michael Cox BBS of America, Inc. 5320 BBS Drive Braselton, GA30517 770/967-9848 800/422-7972 Fax 770/967-9866 michael@bbs-usa.com www.bbs-usa.com "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EL PAALO Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stifen Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 wouldn't it depend on the copyright laws where they're made? i mean, in china.. there really aren't any, so it's like bootleg heaven. i'm sure the phillipines is the same, but i could be wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mach_six Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I believe Rota has a factory in the Phillippines but regardless, i don't think you can copyright a design. I mean they're still selling it...and you have lots of companies out there making aftermarket replacement body parts and such. I don't see how a wheel design is any different if other companies can copy parts of a car and sell it. Somethign about these Rota wheels that they just look bland, either their paint or whatever they use to coat the wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KartRacerBoy Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Nowadays, people patent everything, and the patent office can't review all the applications to see if they merit a patent. Hence, by default, the patent is approved. Then it is up to the patent holder to enforce the patent. If in trial they cannot show their copyright was valid (ie, their patented design was different and significant enough to warrant patent protection), they will lose their patent infringement lawsuit. Voila! I am a now a patent attorney. All bow down to me (except my wife....and cat....oh, and the little turds my cat leaves all over the house...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brack Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 hmm, if they were 18x8 i would be interested As someone above stated, Tarmac III's are 18x8. That is the difference between them and Tarmac II's, They look the same. II's 7.5" wide, III's 8"wide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EL PAALO Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 wouldn't it depend on the copyright laws where they're made? i mean, in china.. there really aren't any, so it's like bootleg heaven. i'm sure the phillipines is the same, but i could be wrong they wouldn't be able to legally sell them in the u.s. though, which they do. there are slight differences that allow them to "copy" other companies' original designs. normally it bugs me, but rota has really catered to the subaru market with hubcentric wheels ....... something most of the high end companies have not done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenonk Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 The P45s need to be in gold and ALL of them should have a polished lip FTW! Keefe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 they wouldn't be able to legally sell them in the u.s. though, which they do. there are slight differences that allow them to "copy" other companies' original designs. normally it bugs me, but rota has really catered to the subaru market with hubcentric wheels ....... something most of the high end companies have not done. BBS, SSR, Volk, Prodrive, ASA ....etc all make Subaru hubcentric wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 wouldn't it depend on the copyright laws where they're made? i mean, in china.. there really aren't any, so it's like bootleg heaven. i'm sure the phillipines is the same, but i could be wrong For example, China bootlegs all sorts of Microsoft software. Microsoft can't go after them in China but if the software is sold in the U.S. they can go after the seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsalicru Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 The fact that the Rota Formula Mesh is a 18 x 8 instead of 18 x 8.5 like the BBS RE S203/204 is most likely percentage enough. "some say, his arms are made of coiled adamantium fibers. And that he tops his cereal with nuts and bolts. All we know is, he's called the Jose." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 From: Michael Cox [mailto:michael@bbs-usa.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 20065:54 PM To: Miles Subject: RE: Rota Copy of BBS RE Wheel Hi Doug, We've seen the Rota wheel (and others, Aghhhh!). We forward them to our attorney to go after them. You can have a wheel design that's close but there has to be a certain percentage of the wheel that's different. That one looks like they made a mold from our wheel! Copies, they drive us crazy! Thanks for the e-mail. Regards, Michael Cox BBS of America, Inc. 5320 BBS Drive Braselton, GA30517 770/967-9848 800/422-7972 Fax 770/967-9866 michael@bbs-usa.com www.bbs-usa.com "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" +1 Instead of all this yak yak yak you went straight to the source. The BBS RE wheel comes in 18x8. As the BBS guy said “That one looks like they made a mold from our wheel!”. Maybe I should contact Prodrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownBoy Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I'm all for the real thing and all...but what's wrong w/ having a cheap alternative? I don't mind having a similar look for about the price of ONE of those rims...call me cheap, frugal, smart w/ my money, whatever... Don't you guys send Rota out of business before I can pick up some rims now! Complaining about cheap wheels...what has this world come to? Disclaimer: I know you guys are just making some points, discussing patents and such and not shooting down cheap wheels, well some of you may be, but this is more of a "lighten up the mood" type post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mines Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 Why would you go about contacting BBS or Prodrive. The only reason why rota wheels exist is because some people can not afford the real deal. I dont think that people the people who have bought the real deal rims should not feel threatened by copied rims since there are minute differences that really stand out when you see it in person. Plus, emulation is the ultimate form of flattery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EL PAALO Posted April 29, 2006 Share Posted April 29, 2006 copyright laws are in place for a reason ........ to protect the people/company that come up with an idea and do the r&d. Rota is not going out of business because I assume they change the design enough so as to not have to worry about losing lawsuits to the companies they copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_m Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 The spokes on the Tarmac III are constant width and curve in a bit ( a lot like the G-forces ) The spokes on the Tarmac IIs are tapered and flush mount with the wheel edge ( much nicer imo ) Tarmac II http://www.subydude.com/images/prod/products/Wheels/rota/Tarmac2/tarmac2_steelgrey_detail2.jpg Tarmac III ( post #382 ) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898850&page=16&pp=25 As someone above stated, Tarmac III's are 18x8. That is the difference between them and Tarmac II's, They look the same. II's 7.5" wide, III's 8"wide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brack Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Post # 382 is the G Force, not the Tarmac III. At least that's the way I read it. The spokes on the Tarmac III are constant width and curve in a bit ( a lot like the G-forces ) The spokes on the Tarmac IIs are tapered and flush mount with the wheel edge ( much nicer imo ) Tarmac II http://www.subydude.com/images/prod/products/Wheels/rota/Tarmac2/tarmac2_steelgrey_detail2.jpg Tarmac III ( post #382 ) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898850&page=16&pp=25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_m Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 my bad post #172 is the Tarmac III: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898850&page=7&pp=25 remains very very similar to the G-Force ( sadly ) personally I prefer the look of the Tarmac IIs over the IIIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team23jordan Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 who gives a shit?? if you dont want it, dont get rotas buy bbs and spend a lot more cash and stop crying about it Perrin BIG maf intake Perrin Turbo Inlet HKS SSQV BOV Megan Racing header with UP (ceramic coated) HKS DP (WRX) DMH E-cutout Custom 3" catback UTEC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsalicru Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 The BBS RE wheel comes in 18x8. I think we all know that. HOWEVER, the 18 x 8 RE is rounded in the center area where the S203/204 RE is 8.5" wide, has sharp edges in that area, and is the only one with those sharp edges. "some say, his arms are made of coiled adamantium fibers. And that he tops his cereal with nuts and bolts. All we know is, he's called the Jose." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amigo Posted May 2, 2006 Share Posted May 2, 2006 Why would you go about contacting BBS or Prodrive. The only reason why rota wheels exist is because some people can not afford the real deal. I dont think that people the people who have bought the real deal rims should not feel threatened by copied rims since there are minute differences that really stand out when you see it in person. Plus, emulation is the ultimate form of flattery. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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