Can't Read This, Any chinese UU members can translate Ayers copies of Moore Bettah's

mm stan

mm stan

Mystery Man
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I thought Ayers said these were one off custom ukes...
I remember reading how some person cried when they got there custom Ayers/Uluru ukulele...

looks like in production to me...
they lied to everyone...how do they do business like that....

hopefully this a misunderstanding and they paid Chuck for the rights to his design
 
Unbelievable! Yes, I know- it happens all of the time... but I still find it unbelievable! Well, I am going to do my best to make my displeasure know. Also, I will not buy Ayers or from anyone that sells Ayers. It may not be much, but it is a definite action I can take, so I will.
 
I belong to many camping, hammocking, hiking/backpacking, kayaking forums, and every single one is littlered with this type of design theft. Always from China, in my recollection. Camping stoves, tents, kayaks... you name it, it's copied. And not once have I seen that the original designer can do a thing about it, legally. Too costly, international laws, and they'd simply tweak the design and do it again if there was a legal "win".

I'm sorry to see this happen to Mr. Moore.
 
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I just can't sit around and do nothing. So I have emailed the following to Ayers:
To whom it may concern (hopefully the CEO),
Your company is despicable! You steal intellectual property, apologize, then ramp up production on the theft. My case in point is your repeated theft from Mr. Chuck Moore, a brilliant inlay artist and one of the world's finest luthiers. Here are the facts:
You stole his designs for at least 2 ukuleles
You formally apologized on your website (http://www.ayersguitar.com/?post_type=news&p=2183)
You lied in the apology (We made two custom ukuleles to customers but we do not carefully research the origin of the design we received)
Now you are in full-scale production of these ukuleles
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.32.maBdmL&id=26146272860&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.1.maBdmL&id=19282910432&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.69.maBdmL&id=19301953495

I cannot tolerate this behavior. To that end, I am boycotting Ayers guitars, Uluru Ukuleles, and anyone who sells them. Not only that, but my friends in the ukulele community are launching a campaign against this practice and your involvement in it. To rectify the situation, we expect you will immediately cease production of these ukuleles, recall all of them that have been produced, and film their destruction and post the video online with a new and sincere apology. Only at that time will friendly relations resume.

Attached is the first of many images that will be distributed to all Ayers dealers.

I sincerely hope you take corrective action as your previous actions have all been lies and further inflamed the situation. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and I look forward to its immediate resolution.

Awaiting your reply,
[Name] (attached Hippie Guy's image)

I will also email a similar letter to every Ayers dealer I can find. Yes, I realize most of them are international except for Flea Circus Music. Perhaps it is a wasted effort, but I really don't care. I have some time available and I'm very angry! It will help me feel better to vent. I encourage others that feel the same to do the same.
boycot.jpg
 
That is such a bummer.
 
My letter to their distributors and retailers:

Hello,
As an Ayers/Uluru distributor, I need to bring the following information to your attention. Ayers/Uluru is actively in the business of intellectual property theft. They are aware of the situation, have apologized for it, then increased production. I am sure once you review the facts, you will not wish to continue to support their business. Here are the facts:
Ayers/Uluru stole designs for at least 3 ukuleles from Mr. Chuck Moore, a brilliant inlay artist and one of the world's finest luthiers.
Ayers/Uluru formally apologized on your website (http://www.ayersguitar.com/?post_type=news&p=2183)
Ayers/Uluru lied in the apology (We made two custom ukuleles to customers but we do not carefully research the origin of the design we received)
Now Ayers/Uluru is in full-scale production of these ukuleles
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.32.maBdmL&id=26146272860&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.1.maBdmL&id=19282910432&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.69.maBdmL&id=19301953495

I cannot tolerate this behavior. Unfortunately, this means a boycott of Ayers Guitars, Uluru Ukuleles, and anyone who sells them. Not only that, but my friends in the ukulele community are launching a campaign against this practice and your involvement in it. We mean your company no harm, so we ask that you cease distributing and selling Ayers Guitars and Uluru Ukuleles. I am sure a no reputable company would want to be associated with admitted and continued thieves.

To rectify the situation, we expect Ayers/Uluru will immediately cease production of these ukuleles, recall all of them that have been produced, film their destruction, and post the video online with a new, sincere apology. Only at that time will friendly relations resume.

I sincerely hope you can help Ayers/Uluru to see the ramifications of continued theft by ceasing your relationship with them. I have emailed them about this situation and I look forward to their immediate response.
Sincerely,
[Name] (attached Hippie Guy's image)
 
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This makes me so sad and angry. I am an artist too, and unfortunately it is all to easy to get "ripped off", and it has happened to me too.... I guess all we can do is try and spread the word...Very sad indeed....
 
coolkayaker1 said:
I belong to many camping, hammocking, hiking/backpacking, kayaking forums, and every single one is littlered with this type of design theft. Always from China, in my recollection. Camping stoves, tents, kayaks... you name it, it's copied. And not once have I seen that the original designer can do a thing about it, legally. Too costly, international laws, and they'd simply tweak the design and do it again if there was a legal "win".

I'm sorry to see this happen to Mr. Moore.
Click to expand...

These are not from China
 
Below is a list of known Ayers distributors & retailers and their email addresses. I will keep this updated as I find new information.

I have sent my email to each of them. Where an email address is listed, I did not receive a delivery failure. Since my message is in English, I would appreciate any native speakers to translate and either PM me or send it themselves. I don't want to use a translation program as that will probably not work well. The image should be universal, if nothing else.

Australia
Ayers Australia- lowport@westnet.com.au

Canada
Ayers Canada- ayerscanada@gmail.com

China
Ayers China- andylee.ayers@ymail.com

Germany
 Ukulele, Banjos & more- Andreas David- info@andreas-david.com

Hong Kong
Parson Music- (bounce back)

Japan
Hosco- shinji@hosco.co.jp

Korea
The Guitar- theguitarkorea@gmail.com

Malaysia
Candor Music Sdn Bhd- steven@candormusic.com.my

Netherlands
Vriese Music Palace- (bounce back)
Muziekcentrum Van Gorp- info@vangorp.nl

Singapore
Excel Singapore- sales@excelsingapore.com

Taiwan
Music Dream House- uluruuke@yahoo.com.tw
Ayers Taiwan (I believe this is the parent company)- guitars@ayersmusic.com

Thailand
Monkeyplum company limited- info@monkeyplumstudio.com
Strings Shop- info@stringsshop.com

UK
Stones Music- stonesmusicuk@gmail.com
440 Distribution- tom@440distribution.com

USA
Ayers USA- markk@ayersguitarusa.com
Flea Circus Music- FleaCircusMusic@gmail.com
 
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Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
Mahalo everyone for the alert. Here we go again. Does anyone know how to translate that entire web page?
Click to expand...

The loose translation is "We are crooks and enjoying making money off other people's property...OPP, ya you know me!"

Sorry Chuck that this seems to never end.
 
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equina said:
I have not been following the Ayers/Uluru thread on the copyright issues, so I will restrict my comments to just the ukes displayed on taobao. If a copyright holder of specific designs of centuries-old Chinese motifs insists on waging a legal battle in China, he is not likely to win it. Neither will he win the support of both the mainland and overseas Chinese. These centuries-old Chinese motifs are very, very common in China, and it is normal practice for Chinese artists to copy from one another, hence to claim copyright for them is like trying to trademark a commonly used word.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your insight. Yes, we are aware of Chinese disregard of all things related to intellectual property. This is widely recognized in the West as illustrated here: http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/chinese-counterfeits-best-worst-photos-110726.htm

Personally, I believe this theft of IP is directly related to the rapid rise of China in the modern era. We are also realistic enough to know that if the Apples and Microsofts of the world can't win, there is no way a one-man shop can win. Therefore, we will take alternative measures. Target the retailers and distributors. If nothing else, it means increased awareness.

equina said:
Please note that I'm NOT saying it is right for Ayers/Uluru to steal Mr Moore's designs. I'm just trying to explain certain facts pertaining to these two specific designs, and sometimes people (in this case the Chinese and the West) do not see eye to eye because of differences in culture and perception of certain issues. It is very difficult to explain this, but I hope I am being understood.
Click to expand...

I am glad you understand this and my hope is that more Chinese will understand this as well. Theft is theft, using culture to explain it away cheapens the culture (disrespects it) and is just an excuse. I look forward to the day that China, and others, stop making excuses and join modern society by recognizing IP theft as true theft.
 
equina said:
According to the texts, the ukuleles are described as "custom models". It looks like they are positioning the products like they're hand-made by luthiers. The texts mostly describe the superiority of materials of the ukes, like ebony fretboard, abalone purfling, koa wood, and so on. They did not claim that they were the original artist behind the Chinese dragon and bamboo motifs.

Since taobao operates in China, the prices are in Chinese Yuan, not US Dollars. You need to do a currency conversion to get the approximate price in US Dollars.

As for the copyright issue, it will be very difficult to enforce in China. The motifs used are the Chinese dragon and bamboo, which are both very common Chinese motifs, marketed on taobao, the "ebay" of China. I doubt any Chinese artists from the ancient times till now have ever claimed copyright on the Chinese dragons and bamboo plants they painted or crafted, because they most probably copied from one another to improve their craft.

I have looked at Mr. Moore's Chinese dragon design, and noted that his dragon has 5 claws. During imperial China, only the emperor and his closest family members are allowed to wear or use the 5-clawed dragon motif, as the 5-clawed dragon denotes the emperor's authority to rule over China. To the Chinese, the Chinese dragon is the most powerful and sacred mythical animal, and it is unique to China. The idea that a Chinese dragon of any design can be copyrighted, especially by a non-Chinese, can cause anger in some circles.

I have not been following the Ayers/Uluru thread on the copyright issues, so I will restrict my comments to just the ukes displayed on taobao. If a copyright holder of specific designs of centuries-old Chinese motifs insists on waging a legal battle in China, he is not likely to win it. Neither will he win the support of both the mainland and overseas Chinese. These centuries-old Chinese motifs are very, very common in China, and it is normal practice for Chinese artists to copy from one another, hence to claim copyright for them is like trying to trademark a commonly used word.

Please note that I'm NOT saying it is right for Ayers/Uluru to steal Mr Moore's designs. I'm just trying to explain certain facts pertaining to these two specific designs, and sometimes people (in this case the Chinese and the West) do not see eye to eye because of differences in culture and perception of certain issues. It is very difficult to explain this, but I hope I am being understood.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your translation on the links above...looking at your sig I see you do not own a Moore Bettah..
my main gripe with Ayers is they stole some ones hard work...

as we are family here on the Ukulele Underground so I feel for my brothers and sisters who own a one of a kind MB..it was designed for one person in mind and what Ayers is doing to me does not seem right...only my opinion..

In the big picture it will be hard to stop them but again you never know what the UU family can do...
 
Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
Mahalo everyone for the alert. Here we go again. Does anyone know how to translate that entire web page?
Click to expand...

Google translate is the best I know. It can only translate the text and not the images, so it is of limited help:
http://translate.google.com/transla...aBdmL&id=26146272860&initiative_new=1&act=url

http://translate.google.com/transla...1.14.1.maBdmL&id=19282910432&initiative_new=1

http://translate.google.com/transla...m.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.69.maBdmL&id=19301953495
 
Tigeralum2001 said:
My letter to their distributors and retailers:

Hello,
As an Ayers/Uluru distributor, I need to bring the following information to your attention. Ayers/Uluru is actively in the business of intellectual property theft. They are aware of the situation, have apologized for it, then increased production. I am sure once you review the facts, you will not wish to continue to support their business. Here are the facts:
Ayers/Uluru stole designs for at least 2 ukuleles from Mr. Chuck Moore, a brilliant inlay artist and one of the world's finest luthiers.
Ayers/Uluru formally apologized on your website (http://www.ayersguitar.com/?post_type=news&p=2183)
Ayers/Uluru lied in the apology (We made two custom ukuleles to customers but we do not carefully research the origin of the design we received)
Now Ayers/Uluru is in full-scale production of these ukuleles
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.32.maBdmL&id=26146272860&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.1.maBdmL&id=19282910432&initiative_new=1
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.69.maBdmL&id=19301953495

I cannot tolerate this behavior. Unfortunately, this means a boycott of Ayers Guitars, Uluru Ukuleles, and anyone who sells them. Not only that, but my friends in the ukulele community are launching a campaign against this practice and your involvement in it. We mean your company no harm, so we ask that you cease distributing and selling Ayers Guitars and Uluru Ukuleles. I am sure a no reputable company would want to be associated with admitted and continued thieves.

To rectify the situation, we expect Ayers/Uluru will immediately cease production of these ukuleles, recall all of them that have been produced, film their destruction, and post the video online with a new, sincere apology. Only at that time will friendly relations resume.

I sincerely hope you can help Ayers/Uluru to see the ramifications of continued theft by ceasing your relationship with them. I have emailed them about this situation and I look forward to their immediate response.
Sincerely,
[Name] (attached Hippie Guy's image)
Click to expand...

Would attaching an electronic petition carry more weight?
 
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