I think I side with this issue when it comes to pads however helmets are a different issue.
I feel that making a pad graphic is extremely difficult and Laborous and I don’t agree on making clones of pads like Simmons. I also don’t like copy’s of paint unless it’s an idea (ie sketch pen on masks). However actual construction of helmets I concur. Unfortunately not every person can afford a 900 dollar xpm bucket from Bauer, however when a company like OTNY is offering a comparable helmet at 300 dollars cheaper with the same shell shape I feel that it’s justified. Concussions are a serious issue and if you can put a pro level bucket on a goalie who isn’t crazy well off for a relatively affordable price, I can look the other way and I’ll gladly do it. I honestly don’t think you can argue morals with a company like Bauer who advertises plastic to be put on a child’s head by putting darth Vader on it. I also don’t know why the nme 5 and profile 940x are in a senior size when they aren’t the quality needed for higher level hockey. You mean to tell me that it’s moral to engineer a product that you know isn’t the protection needed for a 13 or 14 year playing hockey and sell it just to make money. Or to directly market to 7 and 8 year olds with Star Wars with an inferior masks. I just think at that point your not caring about the customers safety and morality is thrown out the window. So if someone copied a bauer shell design I think that I’m fine with it as long as they aren’t blatantly using certain technologies. I feel that the absolute necessity of head protection is also a key contributor in whether its moral to steal a shell design, it’s not the same as stealing a skate or pad design because of the nature of the product. Also certain companies like otny offer custom fits unlike bauer.