We Have Questions About These Oddly Familiar Brands
Every company wants to be recognized. After all, the most successful commercial companies in the world tend to be the ones with established brand identities, like Coca-Cola, Nike, and Apple.
But for smaller companies who aspire to this kind of brand recognition, sometimes imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's one thing to establish your own unique brand to go toe to toe with some of the biggest companies in the world — but sometimes it's easier just to rip off the big names.
Do they roll back prices, too?
This off-brand grocery store takes a subtle approach to its branding. It isn't going to completely rip off Walmart's logo or anything. It just wants to evoke the big box retailer without being too obvious about it.
It's hard not to appreciate the fact that they came up with their own logo. Walmart has smiley faces, while WalterMart has a red heart in front of a blue...half of a heart? It's the thought that counts.
There's a lot to process here
For those who aren't up to speed on the Kingdom of Hyrule and Zelda lore in general, it's easy to confuse Princess Zelda, the titular character, with Link — the green-clad elf-looking dude who serves as the playable character.
Even with that in mind, this product really misses the mark. Not only does Pikachu have absolutely nothing to do with Zelda, but he's also wearing a Superman shirt and cape for some reason.
When two types of tech collide
Anyone who grew up in the '80s and '90s knows that while a VCR wasn't an exciting piece of tech, it was absolutely integral for anyone who was serious about home entertainment.
VCRs still have their place for those who collect old VHS tapes, of course, but the tech hasn't advanced much in the past 30 years. This is either a bold new way to combine modern gaming with VHS, or some kind of fake abomination.
Thunderstruck...by learning
On one hand, the blocks seem to suggest the alphabet — and if that's the case, they definitely got the first four letters wrong. But viewed another way, this is an exciting example of co-branding.
Parents want their kids to be literate and know their ABCs, but parents who like to rock also want their kids to know their AC/DCs. This learning center might just have found a way to court a new demographic.
A weird theme to go for
It's totally understandable that off-brands want to capitalize on popular superheroes, but can't use their real names or branding because they'll get sued. Still...deceased hero? Could they not have thought of a better name?
Maybe 'Final Pool' or 'Dead Lake' would have opened up the potential for litigation, but almost any name would be better than this one. The combination of the lifeless packaging art, the model's posture, and of course the name is just depressing.
It's got the golden arches, that's all that matters
Every fast food startup wants to eventually find the success of McDonald's, but ultimately, there's only one brand that bears the golden arches. Well, that's what I thought, at least — but then I saw this picture.
It's hard to imagine this place staying in business for very long with this obvious infringement of McDonald's intellectual property. At least they didn't rip off Coca-Cola. Judging by that umbrella, they at least serve real Coke.
It's-a...me?
What started as a mere palette swap of the Mario character has evolved into Luigi: A legitimate Nintendo character who stands alone (even though he's usually cast as Mario's sidekick).
On the surface, nothing about this figurine looks off. The paint is crisp, the colors are accurate, and the proportions are correct (Luigi is taller and skinnier than his brother). The only issue — and unfortunately, it's kind of a big one — is the initial on Luigi's hat.
Truth in advertising
For many years, off-brand video game controllers flooded the market. They offered a low-quality, mushy control experience compared to the genuine article, offset slightly by a significantly lower price.
Usually these off-brand controllers opted for their own unique aesthetic, but this one just rips off Sony's iconic DualShock design. It would seem like a shameless ripoff, but give them credit — they acknowledge right on the controller itself that it's phony...err, fony.
Son of Game Boy
The original Game Boy had a pretty modest screen on its big, brick-like case. But even though the screen was only 2.5 inches across, with no backlight and a muddy green picture, it would feel like 4K compared to this thing.
The Game Child does have a few more buttons than the Game Boy, I'll give it that. But playing anything at all on a screen the size of a postage stamp is just going to cause eye strain.
Mo' problems
Monopoly is a classic board game that's spawned about a million variants. All you have to do, really, is rename the properties to go along with a specific theme while keeping the core gameplay intact.
It stands to reason that there will be rip-offs of the game itself, too. Here's one such example, complete with the Monopoly Man's poor cousin. If you are going to make a fake version of Monopoly, this at least isn't a bad name for it.
You're a long way from the swamp
It's hard to tell if this was a statue of something else that was awkwardly morphed into a shape that vaguely resembles Shrek or if this was an earnest attempt to create a realistic version of Shrek.
Whatever the story behind this statue is, it's a failure on all fronts. Not only does it not look like Shrek it's also certifiable nightmare fuel for anyone who encounters it — especially after dark.
The Forth Nace
The North Face has one of the simplest logos out there, with a stylized lowercase 'N' paired with the company name in a basic font. It seems like an easy logo to rip off, and this is proof positive.
Of course, a closer look reveals that this isn't anything close to a genuine North Face product. But from a distance, some might confuse The Huge Mountain for The North Face.
This one has it all.
Are you here for off-brand Lego, or off-brand fast food restaurants? Well, with this playset, there's no need to choose between the two. All of the staples are here, from Pizza Dude to FCS to SANDWICH.
This looks like it would actually be a fun set to put together — but if you've ever dealt with off-brand Lego, you already know that putting the bricks together and keeping them together is an exercise in patience.
It's like they didn't even try
Supreme is an extremely popular lifestyle brand, which means it's also ripped off with a high level of frequency. Some of these off-brand Supreme logos — like this one — barely even resemble the real thing.
It makes sense to change the spelling so it doesn't literally say 'Supreme' — but this seems like it was literally made with the Windows default font. They could have at least italicized the text.
Those don't go together
Here's a weird one. I know that product — it's a pair of blue jeans. I also know that logo — it's an unaltered Asus Computers logo. The big question, of course, is how a computer company's branding wound up on a pair of jeans.
This could actually be a legitimate product, though it's hard to envision a scenario where Asus would decide to get a bunch of custom pairs of jeans made up. T-shirts with the company logo would have sufficed.
A million ways to eat in the west
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most successful, popular, and critically acclaimed video games ever made, so naturally there's a drive to capitalize on its iconic and recognizable branding.
This is certainly a choice. You've got Arthur Morgan, the protagonist, drawn up using the game's art style. Arthur isn't holding a six-shooter, though — he's carrying a chicken drumstick. I wasn't expecting this, but I'd also be tempted to give it a try.
Age of nothing special
When using the word "Avengers" could open you up to a lawsuit, the next-best thing you can do is find another word that starts with the same letters. "Average" isn't a particularly exciting word but it is, ultimately, a word.
It's kind of funny that the designer of this box went to the effort to render the new word in the distinctive Avengers font, but then just left the "Age of Ultron" subheader completely untouched.
He is not the one who knocks
If this just had an actual Breaking Bad logo on it, it would look like one of those hyper-accurate action figures intended for adult collectors. But fans of the show don't have that option, so they'll have to settle for Biohazard Boy.
This product, if the real thing is anything like the picture, actually looks pretty awesome. There are many different ways to style Jesse Pinkman, although for these purposes he's probably known as Bessie Jinkman.
Those must be the Hollywood Hills
The background suggests Hollywood, while the foreground suggests...well, something other than Hollywood. Actually, the more you look at the background, the less it looks like Hollywood. Sure, there's something that could be considered a Hollywood Sign, but that's about it.
This community, wherever it is, really should have just picked a different international landmark to emulate. The Eiffel Tower is a good choice — they've got replicas of that everywhere.
Be like Mike
Considering Michael Jordan's long partnership with Nike, it's kind of surprising that this logo hasn't been made official at some point or another. In any case, this is a great product for swoosh enthusiasts named Mike.
The guy who posted this on Reddit says that his name is Mike, so it's hard to know whether this is a case of him seeing a product with his name on it and buying it, or merely a happy coincidence.
I see what he did there
If you're a lawyer named Al Goodman, and a show comes up about a lawyer who goes by Saul Goodman, what do you do? A true lawyer might sue, but this lawyer decided to use the co-branding opportunity.
He did a great job with the billboard, as it truly matches the aesthetics of the fictional Saul Goodman. My only problem is the pronunciation. "Better Call Al" doesn't rhyme, so it isn't as catchy.
They get the message across
If you want to rip off a popular board game, but with an original title, these games are a masterclass. Sure, "Don't Torment Me" isn't as snappy as "Sorry!" but both capture the same vibe.
This makes me wonder what the names of other games might be. Could there be an off-brand Monopoly called "Rich People Ruin Things"? Maybe Scrabble could be rebranded as "Frustrating Little Letter Tiles?" The possibilities are endless.
It never says it's Polo
How do you shamelessly use the brand name of the product you're ripping off without getting sued? Easy, just put it in big letters, and surround it with disclaimers to state that this isn't actually the product in question.
This one is truly breathtaking. Not only does it say 'Polo' in huge letters, it also states several times that not only isn't actually Polo, but it's also for comparison purposes only.
The Unincredibles
I'm no expert when it comes to lore surrounding The Incredibles, or really anything Pixar-related in general. But sometimes, you just know that something is off even when you're not particularly familiar with it.
It's hard not to feel sympathy for whoever created this. They really, really wanted to create a life-sized statue version of the titular superheroes, but they just couldn't get a single detail to look remotely convincing.
It's for genius people
You've played Uno, but have you tried Ono? This is a classic example of an off-brand — a product that looks like it's the real thing from a distance, and only becomes obviously fake after you take a second look.
I do think that the manufacturers need to tone back their promises, though. Is Uno really a card game "for genius people?" I don't think it is, but perhaps Ono is a different beast.
When you can't decide on a 'za
We've all been there: You're hanging with your friends on a Friday night, and you're trying to decide which pizza chain to order from. Do you go for the deep dish gluttony of Pizza Hut, or the non-deep dish gluttony of Domino's?
Well, if you live near this city block, the choice doesn't come down to Pizza Hut versus Domino's. You can have Pizza Hot, or something from Adomino. That's it.
Can I believe that it isn't butter?
When you think about it, it's a miracle that "I Can't Believe it's Not Butter!" became a well-known brand name because it's just about the clunkiest product name in existence.
That said, it's a successful product. All of the evidence you need is right here, because companies don't rip off the brand names of unsuccessful products. In fact, this isn't even the first variant of the brand I've seen online.
They're not wrong
Whoever named this rolling pin is absolutely, technically correct: This is, in fact, a movable stick, so they've decided to label it as such. The weird part is that the term 'rolling pin' is generic and they were free to use it.
Maybe they wanted to set a new trend by moving away from generic terms like this to create their own brand. Sure, "Movable Stick" isn't an exciting or dynamic brand name — but it's a starting point, at the very least.
They've got all the classics
The Redditor who posted this noted that these were on a display shelf at Ikea. That means that they're intentionally fake and just serve as window dressing to make their lifestyle displays look more realistic.
This is a tad disappointing, because I'd like to check out an alternate reality where I can follow up a Need For Street session with some Calling for Duty on my GS4 video game console.
At least the reviews are good.
When you think about it, "Five Guys" could have limitless variants. You could have One, Two, Three, Four, or Six Guys. You could have Five Fellas. You could have, well, the name of this place.
Based on the picture, which admittedly might be a placeholder, Five Lads actually offers much more on its menu than Five Guys Burger and Fries. Honestly, if I saw this on DoorDash, I'd probably give it a try.
It almost looks legit.
There's a seemingly endless parade of off-brand 7-Elevens around the world, from places called "8-Twelve" to "24-7." This one, though, is extremely faithful to its source material, from the colors used to the font.
In fact, if you just glanced at this place and didn't note the spelling, you might be fooled into thinking that this was a legit (albeit rustic and small) 7-Eleven franchise. I wonder if that's Evelyn herself working the counter.
The Mushroom Kingdom, sort of
These off-brand versions of Mario, Luigi, DK, and the rest of the Mario gang actually look closer to the real thing than some of the Mushroom Kingdom abominations on this list. Still, it's glaringly obvious that these are knock-offs.
This photo is from Google Street View, which uses AI to automatically blur people's faces for privacy. It's really weird that Luigi's face is apparently close enough to a real human face to blur, but Mario's isn't.
Zoinks!
This old-school notebook looks more or less like a genuine Scooby Doo product at first glance, or if it's seen from a distance. But the closer you get, and the harder you look, the weirder it gets.
Copyright infringement is a thing you can get sued for, and that was also true whenever this notebook was made. That said, I can't think of a good reason for why they went in this stylistic direction.
An off-brand food court
Mall food courts typically feature a few chain restaurants and also a few random independent places. In this food court, though, you'll find the best of both worlds: Random independent places that are trying very hard to look like big chain restaurants.
If you take the names of these restaurants and jumble them up, you could wind up with Pizza Hut and Burger King. Then again, you could also get Burger Hut and Pizza King.
Can they legally call it ketchup?
This isn't ripping off Heinz, or French's, or Hunt's. It's definitely its own brand. What I don't understand is why they can't just call it 'ketchup' since 'ketchup' is not a trademarked term.
Maybe the ingredients list is so low-quality that there's some legal reason that this can't be called ketchup — kind of like when low-end chocolate bars have to specify that they're just a candy product with "chocolatey coating."
Sam I am
This pic — which was appropriately posted to Reddit by a user named SamStache — gives us a glimpse at an alternate universe: One where Finding Nemo is simply called Deepo, and every single character is named Sam.
While it would be intriguing to see this weirdo form of entertainment — particularly for fans of the franchise it's ripping off — it might be a tad confusing. I mean, everyone literally has the same name.
Nuthin' but a meat thang
These headphones are still Dre — they didn't go full off-brand and call him Dr. Grey or something — but they're no longer Beats. Now they're Meats, complete with a cute lowercase M logo.
It makes sense to rip off a popular brand of headphones (well, it made more sense when everyone was still wearing these things), but calling them 'Meats' is certainly a choice — one that might get confusing for barbecue fans.
He has a plan
This poster seems like a trick to get gamers to perk up to notice something they otherwise wouldn't. I guess whoever runs this church couldn't resist the symmetry between redemption (the Christ kind) and redemption (the Red Dead kind).
The Red Dead protagonists, John Marston and Arthur Morgan, showed a decided lack of interest in religion throughout the games' stories. Who knows — maybe if they'd gone to this church group, they could have avoided all of that rootin' tootin' drama.
Check your six
Snickers is an extremely popular candy bar, so it stands to reason that it's frequently ripped off. Some brands just take the Snickers ingredients and slap a new name and logo on it, while others choose not to mess with success and stay true to the real branding.
'Snipers' does sound somewhat like 'Snickers,' but it's a word with alarming connotations. If the makers of this bar wanted a soundalike word, they should have called it 'Knickers.'
The hat from Weirder Stuff.
Stranger Things is the Netflix hit that just keeps giving, creating a whole cottage industry of merchandise and Halloween costumes. Here, we can see the genuine article compared with its off-brand equivalent.
It's kind of funny that the makers of the SPORTS HAT costume flipped the colors around. I doubt Stranger Things trademarked the exact sequence of colors on Dustin's hat, but knowing how the entertainment industry operates, it's certainly possible.
A very literal product
Whether you're heading to the beach or just want something to wear in a communal shower, a good pair of slides is a must-have when it comes to footwear.
We're not sure if these slides are an actual Google product or not (maybe some sort of corporate swag?), but in any event, it's a clever bit of synergy. That's assuming you want to wear a Google Slides logo on your feet.
Oh, I get it
This is a delightfully clever way to reference Aladdin without actually using the name. Still, whoever came up with this may have been a bit too clever for their own good.
That's because there's no need to make an off-brand version of Aladdin. The character and name are not owned by Disney — in fact, they're not owned by anybody, as the Middle Eastern folk tale is way older than Disney. It's definitely public domain at this point.
Nanica, my favorite video game brand
Credit where credit is due: This box art absolutely nails the Nintendo Switch aesthetic, and it does look like a legit Switch if you don't look too close.
It looks like a Switch, and it apparently includes 800 games — what a bargain! It's just too bad that this thing isn't a Switch at all. It's a Nanica Smitch, and it doesn't even have thumbsticks. Looks like they pulled the ol' smitcheroo.
Angry at Mondays
Yes, this is a sweater vest that promises Garfield but delivers only Angry Birds. Looking past that for a moment, I want to take a moment to appreciate this as a work of art.
Usually, these knock-off garments come in the form of a cheap white t-shirt or baseball hat, but this looks like it might actually be a quality garment. It would just take a lot of confidence to pull off this look.
Microsoft Windows: Now in cheese flavor
It makes perfect sense to rip off a successful tech brand like Microsoft's Windows for an off-brand tech product, but it's truly innovative to take the iconic Windows logo and apply it to a bag of mysterious cheese-flavored snacks.
While it would be interesting to see what these look and taste like (please tell me they're shaped like the Windows logo), it might be best to just press CTRL+ALT+DEL on these snacks.
A tale as old as time
Cats versus mice (or rats) is a classic trope, and it makes sense that this eternal battle plays out in all manner of cartoons and other forms of entertainment.
In this case, we see another iteration. This one takes the classic cartoon characters of Tom and Jerry and names them...Cat and Rat. That's one way to get around the lawyers, but I can't imagine the Tom and Jerry IP is even worth that much these days.
Is that the new Zamsung Lagaxy Ultra?
Samsung has positioned itself as a competitor to Apple, with a whole suite of smartphones, earbuds, smartwatches and tablets to match Apple's offerings. And just like Apple, Samsung has seen various off-brands try to capitalize on its success.
I'm genuinely curious to see how this phone operates. Practically anything can run Android, so with a few tweaks, it might not be that much of a step down from a legitimate Samsung phone.
The bonderful borld of Bisney
This was posted to Reddit by someone who received it as a gift from their grandparents. It's hard not to feel bad for the gifter, who just wanted to get something for their grandkid.
At first glance, this looks legitimate enough. It's hard to mess up Mickey's face, and the font looks appropriately whimsical and Disney-ish. It's just that this isn't a Disney product at all - this comes from Bisney.
Red, white and blue
This backpack depicts a hero and features a patriotic color scheme — so does that mean it's Captain America? No. The answer is definitely not.
First off, Mario is demonstrably not American at all. He's Italian, and he was created in Japan. It's a shame that this has the big 'Captain America' text because if they just did away with the lettering, it would actually look like a genuine Nintendo product.
What does YouTube smell like?
"Body sprays that smell like websites" wasn't on anyone's Bingo card for today, but regardless, it's here now. I'd be legitimately curious to smell these — I'm guessing Instagram smells best, based solely on how many lifestyle influencers are on the platform.
The Twitter spray will probably stay branded that way. If they updated it to X, the makers of Axe body spray might see it as too close to their brand.