Are you ready to compare? These 2 logos LOOK the same... but are NOT!

I know it's hard to see with the examples I've given... but I made them small to prove a point. Most Auction ads take throwback pictures where you have to judge the label by looking at a small pic... which is hard. Back to the labels, At first glance, they both look 100% Authentic. They are NOT! Which one is real? Can you tell? If you guessed the "Advertised" 100% Authentic LA Lakers Powder Blue to be a real Mitchell & Ness jersey... you would be WRONG! The Powder blue jersey is the fake. However, the dark Green Larry Bird jersey is the 100% Authentic Mitchell & Ness product. (which you should expect to pay $250 retail due to the high expense of making the M&N product)
The Powder Blue Rip Off (rip offs take the actual labels, reproduce them, Sell them... without the trademark owner's permission or them receiving payment for the rights to use such logos / labels) ... again, the rip off throwbacks are made of cheaper materials and even feel fake. You can grab a fake for typically $90 to $150 bucks. Authentic MN start at or around $250/300.

Here are the actual pictures you would have seen on the auction site where these 2 jerseys were being Sold. Notice how small the area around the label is and that it would be hard to notice a fake if you didn't know what to look for.



What are those labels anyway?
The 4 labels are, Top to bottom: The Year of the throwback (the Powder Blue is of Kobe Bryant's 1996-97 season, however, they could have Only wore the jersey for 1 game) The NBA Hardwood Classics logo. (This is the MOST common place to find a fake) The Mitchell & Ness logo (Red and White) and the actual shirt tag (ie, size, how to wash and so on)

How can you tell?
Notice on the Fake, the Mitchell & Ness "Red and White" logo is very close to the SAME size as the NBA Hardwood Classic logo.

Notice on the Real jersey, the Mitchell & Ness "Red and White" logo is noticeably smaller and sits about a 1/4 inch lower from the NBA Hardwood Classics logo... where on the Fake the "Red and White" M&N logo is placed directly "under" the HWC logo...? NOTE, this in itself doesn't indicate a Fake (Note the 1966 Real logo bottom) It just raises a flag of caution if you see otherwise.

Get Closer! Now notice the Ultimate give away. Focus on the NBA Hardwood Classics logo on BOTH jerseys. Note the REAL HWC logo is smaller. Also notice that the Words on the Hardwood Classics takes up About 3/4 of the label with the NBA logo sitting just to the right of those words.

On the Fake... you can CLEARLY see that the Hardwood Classic words kind of  "Sppppread" themselves across the label with the NBA logo ONLY taking up about 1/8th of the space as compared to the 1/4 (25%) of the Real labels surface area.

To the right is a better, closer picture of a REAL HWC label. (It's the 1966-67 Wilt Chamberlain) You can really see how much smaller the M & N label is as compared to the HWC label. You can see how the words Hardwood Classics take up 3/4 of the label. The NBA logo is shaped perfect. Most Fake labels have an NBA logo that doesn't really look like the NBA's logo.

But notice how even though the LA Lakers Powder Blue label is smaller, you can tell the difference Right away!

This would be a Fake and should be reported to Mitchell & Ness's legal department. You can reach them by emailing info@mitchellandness.com

In closing I would like to explain what a Rip-Off is vs. a Clone jersey. Also, I have posted even more images so you can get better at detecting a fake and reporting it to Mitchell & Ness or the auction site.

Clones vs. Rip Off's
People ask me ALL the time whether it's legal for vendors to Sell these items on eBay. They are NOT allowed. Selling Rip Off's are a violation of the US Laws and can be punishable in a court of law. Big fines and jail time can happen.

Here's the deal. These are Rip Off's. These manufactures have taken Mitchell & Ness's labels and or logos and have "Re-produced" them for profit without M & N permission. This is a violation of the law and folks doing this will do prison time if convicted. It is illegal to sell these items on Ebay or ANY other auction site.

Argument #1
"But, Golf club companies do it ALL the time and no one is going to prison for Knock-off golf clubs"

People... if a company is making golf clubs and slapping a Callaway logo on it and selling them in stores... ?? is that legal ?? Heck NO!

However, Clone clubs or Knock-Offs golf clubs have "bent" the laws just enough to be legal. What I mean is this. Knock-off clubs will LOOK the same as a Real Golf Club company golf club (ie, Callaway, Taylor Made, so on) yet will carry a different name that isn't closely tied to the golf club it's supposed to be.

For example. Callaway "Big Bertha" irons will have knock-offs that LOOK just like them yet be named "Cruise Missiles" However, if a company calls it's knock-offs "Big Brother" irons... they will probably be getting a call from Callaway's legal department.

But not to confuse what is happening to Mitchell & Ness with golf clubs that look similar to it's more expensive counterpart... Mitchell & Ness LOGOS are being used.

Argument #2
"Well, Mitchell & Ness throws are too expensive anyway... to hell with them if they are going to keep the throws $300"

What!?!?! Justifying Rip-Offs because you can't afford something is absolutely crazy. This argument doesn't even get off the ground in a count of law... so sack up and purchase a legit jersey if that's what you want. Buying a Rip off only saturates the market with even MORE fakes.... causing Mitchell & Ness throwbacks to become even MORE in demand and higher priced because everyone will want the " 100% approved Authentic jerseys "... so really your doing yourself a disservice if you buy the Rip-offs in the long run.
 

Real M & N	Fake M & N	Real M & N

Wow, can you see it?!

I think you can.

Good luck everyone and remember, you get what you pay for!

Want to test your skill now? Click below to see

  
check for Mitchell Ness Fakes

remember, report fakes to M & N, they will shut down those violators
 info@mitchellandness.com

 Page 2 of a 3 page report >

Our legal notice for this report
JohnL speaks out on Mitchell & Ness throwback fakes!
we have NO affiliation with the Mitchell & Ness company and do not receive any payment from them for filing this report. It's just a passion thing! JohnL can be read at greatsportsrivalries.com! check him out (date 7/15/2003) JohnL's information is copyrighted 2003, so if you'd like permission to use any of the above contents, please email him directly at the web site above! Thanks