Brand Copycats That Didn’t Quite Stand Up to the Originals

Original Brand: Kit Kat (Nestlé)
Est. Brand Value: $6.5 billion*

When it comes to chocolate snacks, there are so many different variations in the world that it can be hard to choose. American snack foods are incredible things, but sometimes an idea comes from overseas that really takes the biscuit – or, in this case, the KitKat. 

Kat Kot @jacquei_q / Pinterest.com

Hershey nabbed the Kit Kat idea from Rowntree’s of York, a British brand. Then, this unknown company decided it was a good idea to rip off the rip off. A Kat Kot may look the same, but you can’t beat the original, no matter how hard you try!

Original Brand: Beats (Apple)
Est. Brand Value: $7.2 billion*

Beats by Dre were a huge sensation when they first dropped onto the market in the ‘00s, especially because the company had the backing of one of the most successful musicians of all time. There was a catch for fanatics, though – these headphones weren’t cheap! 

Deats @BoredomBash / Pinterest.com

Naturally, as an expensive brand, it was only a matter of time before other companies tried to imitate what the Apple subsidiary had to offer. For instance, this knock-off pair branded Deats cost buyers only $10. Something tells us they aren’t quite as good as the real thing. 

Original Brand: Microsoft Windows
Est. Brand Value: $60.9 billion*

Microsoft Windows is a true titan in the tech world. Microsoft itself made billionaires out of its founders, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and has continued to delight PC lovers across the world with its operating systems and beyond. Windows remains one of its premier products and one of its most recognizable ones. 

Michaelsoft Binbows @deathtoboredom / Pinterest.com

However, that didn’t stop some bright spark from trying to sell Michaelsoft Binbows, as if the unsuspecting public would never notice the hugely iconic logo was stolen. We can’t say for sure what happened here, but it’s likely Microsoft were blissfully unaware. 

Original Brand: Starbucks 
Est. Brand Value: $53.48 billion*

Picking up a steaming cup of java from the local Starbucks is part of the daily routine for many worker bees. This very practice has seen Starbucks blow up into a company worth over $120 billion ever since it opened in 1971. That’s not bad for a coffee shop. 

Sunbucks Coffee @pacopignon / Pinterest.com

The Starbucks logo itself is so iconic that almost everyone knows it, but this coffee shop decided to try and take the best parts and put its own twist on it. Sunbucks Coffee uses the same color scheme but swapped out the picture for a dragon face. That little switch doesn’t make the rip-off any less obvious. 

Original Brand: Nike 
Est. Brand Value: $34.8 billion*

When it comes to sneakers, Nike has done an interstellar job of staying on top of the game for decades now. With new releases happening across the year, the fashion retailer is one of the most copied designers in the entire world. 

Mike @diogolemos26r / Pinterest.com

Some fakes out there are so similar to the real thing that it’s difficult to spot, while others leave a lot to be desired. In this case, the Nike name has been altered to read Mike, which doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, no matter how hard you try!

Original Brand: Coach (Tapestry)
Est. Brand Value: $3.2 billion*

Ever since it was established in 1941, Coach has managed to steadily rise up through the fashion ranks to become a luxury design house worthy of the runway. Their handbags aren’t cheap to purchase, often setting buyers back hundreds of dollars. With that being said, knock-offs are alive and well – and everywhere. 

Coagh ©Wellsphere.com

Some fakes even use the Coach name, but others twist it slightly, hoping that buyers won’t notice. In this case, the Tapestry brand name was modified to read Coagh. Perhaps a passer-by might not notice the difference. 

Original Brand: Mastercard
Est. Brand Value: $20.6 billion*

Most of the time, when a brand is ripped off it’s to sell something that’s in the same field. That could mean a direct replica of the official branded merch, or something else. It’s more unusual for an iconic name like MasterCard to end up selling beef. 

MasterBeef @tiffg0318 / Pinterest.com

This Spanish restaurant shamelessly copied Mastercard’s well-established logo to sell its meals to customers. It’s not immediately clear why, but perhaps they were just taken by the brightness of the red and yellow combo. 

Original Brand: Louis Vuitton (LVMH)
Est. Brand Value: $51.8 billion*

Louis Vuitton is known as a luxury fashion house for a reason. Not everyone can afford to buy one of the spectacularly expensive products from the company, especially when the handbags go for upwards of $1,000. 

Louis Vuitton @jefree6 / Pinterest.com

While this bag isn’t a mass-marketed knock-off, there’s still something to be said for taking a pen and turning one worthless beige bag into a worthless beige bag with a designer name. It may not be real, but you can’t buy this at Target, either. It’s entirely unique and one-of-a-kind. 

Original Brand: Pizza Hut (Yum Brands)
Est. Brand Value: $9.6 billion*

Pizza Hut is a well-loved institution, with over 12,000 restaurants and delivery hubs across the world. When it comes to pizza, this titan knows exactly what to do. Perhaps that is why one company decided it could use the brand to get a leg up. Pizza Huh was born. 

Pizza Huh @EMGNdotcom / Pinterest.com

Pizza Huh has taken pretty much every aspect of the Yum Brands business and used it to their advantage. Everything from the font to the logo design is almost exactly the same, but something tells us this branch isn’t worth billions. 

Original Brand: Converse (Nike)
Est. Brand Value: $2.3 billion*

Converse has managed to establish itself as a sneaker company giant, managing to constantly evolve over the years as the trends change. That being said, its sneaker designs have changed considerably since the first pair of Chuck Taylor’s were released. 

Cnovesre @DailyKimChi.com

What hasn’t changed, however, is the actual name of the Nike-owned company. So, if you ever find yourself keen to grab a bargain on a pair, you might want to at least check the actual name first. Cnovesre is never the word you’re looking for, even if the rest of the design looks spot on.  

Original Brand: Google (Alphabet)
Est. Brand Value: $323 billion*

Google is a tech titan, a name synonymous with web innovation that completely flipped the script on the internet as we know it. However, it’s not a fashion retailer. For some reason, the “Google Fashion Galary” sprang up in an undisclosed location, presenting buyers with a completely unrelated clothing line. 

Google The Fashion Galary

The “fashion galary” consists of two stores, one called WhatsApp Menswear and another called Play Store Fashion World. It’s a unique business idea and one that could land these stores in hot water considering it’s not their name to use, unless GOOGLE Sergei Brin has a side hustle we don’t know about. 

Original Brand: Adidas
Est. Brand Value: $16.7 billion*

We all know that when it comes to sportswear, Adidas can do no wrong. However, Adidos can do nothing but wrong. This poor excuse for a ripoff should never have hit shelves in the first place, but where there’s a will there’s a way. 

Adidos @martinapisova1 / Pinterest.com

We have to give this manufacturer points for effort, but it’s poorly executed and completely horrendous. Not only does the logo look off, but the sewing is uneven. If you want the best, you’ve got to shell out for the real thing, even if it’s more expensive. 

Original Brand: PlayStation (Sony)
Est. Brand Value: $13.4 billion*

The wonderful world of gaming is still on the up and up, with new consoles battling it out to stay on top as the undisputed king. PlayStation has had its hat in the ring for decades now, so perhaps it’s not surprising that someone wants to ride on its coattails. 

Google "The Fashion Galary" @9gag / Pinterest.com

Sadly for the inventor of this knock-off, they didn’t do their research and instead put two competing companies on the same product. Introducing Nintendo’s PolyStation, the strangest hybrid gaming console this side of the galaxy. Luckily for Sony’s PlayStation, sales fell flat. 

Original Brand: KFC (Yum Brands)
Est. Brand Value: $5.5 billion*

The world at large has a strange obsession with finger-licking good chicken, but there’s no denying that KFC is the leader in that field. No matter how many imitations pop up, KFC isn’t letting go of the crown any time soon. Perhaps this is a case of “If you can’t beat them, join them. If you can’t afford the franchise fees…make your own.” 

KFG @videismo / Pinterest.com

KFG looks suspiciously like KFC, doesn’t it? Even the red, white, and blue has the same vibe. The colonel wouldn’t be happy with this brazen show of copyright infringement, but at least they don’t have the secret recipe.