Bootleg - Harry Potter | Atollon - a design company
Bootleg - Harry Potter | Atollon - a design company

Give em’ the bootleg

Michael Pharaoh

Give em’ the bootleg

Author

Michael Pharaoh

When a product in the free market gains popularity and starts to grow, a few things happen; Innovation is born, competition starts, creativity is sparked, chapters in culture are marked.

Another more seedy thing happens though, an underbelly full of people and companies trying to undercut their authentic predecessors. This is the world of bootleg products.

The beauty of these products is in that most of them try to walk the thin line between fooling their consumer into thinking they’re the real deal and being different enough that a judge doesn’t rule them as a copycat.

The combination of often broken English and walking this weird thin line results in some of the most unintentionally funny products and artwork I’ve seen.

The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
In part of Africa - due to limited access to printers, people paint bootleg movie posters. Often much cooler than the original.
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Functionality is secondary - the logo takes up more area than the screen.
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Harry Potter and the Jurassic Bug's Life cartoon
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon

John Wick ft The guy from Avatar, ft Spiderman, ft Batman

I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think combining as many unrelated action heroes onto a page is smarter than just one. But there’s a theme here where Batman will sit next to the guy from Avatar in some bizarre cross-over episode of teenage mutant ninja turtles. The products usually suck, they cut all technical corners while just stealing any IP or copyrighted material to bait customers.

Imagine being able to reap all the power of a brand identity without any of the work required to create one.

Often the design deductions made both from a product and graphic design perspective are made in order to thwart copyright claims. The results are weird titles and scuffed artwork but yet oddly beautiful design moments.

Some of which, ironically, gain more popularity than their authentic counterpart.

The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Adolescent Radioactive Martial Artist Tortoises
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Why use the worlds worst browser's brand equity?
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Tom "Small Face" Cruise. Almost ran out of room there with the title guys.
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
There was also a massive bootleg boom in the 90s, especially when it came to tshirts. Taking iconic characters like Bart Simpson or Mickey Mouse and dripping them out.

Bootleg products usually suck, they cut all technical corners while just stealing any IP or copyrighted material to bait customers.

The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Bootleg Simpsons instrument packaging + toy uzi + Simpsons sticker = Simpsons...uzi?
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
Nothing is sacred
The Weird Bootleg World - News Article | Atollon - a design company
Atollon
"Donatello Man"