So back in November I got a 2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i. Looked to replace my ES with either a Ralliart or Impreza since both have similar specs and price. Ultimately 2.5 liters, AWD, and better resale value won over.

I went looking through Accolade's site to see if they have a body kit for the 2006's yet since the 2.5i, WRX, and STI all share the same body. Found this...

2006 - 2007 SPORTSLINE BODY KIT




Nice right? I thought so too until I later saw this...




If you look carefully you can see where the Accolade version has used Photoshop to cover up the Tommy Kaira logos on the front plate and top center of the grill. Not to mention changing the color from silver to gold.

So basically, Accolade is ripping off a Kaira design, why? Wouldn't there be legal issues?

 

Eh, not really. Alot of bodykit companies make exact/similar bodykits as these type of companies, because most people can't afford the real stuff.

What does make me is the horrible photochop. Yes, you can see were they black out the "TK" name on the plate, because the black they used isn't match w/ the plate color. Also, where they put "gold" on the grill, you can still see the "TK" lines a bit. Also uptop were they have logo in red, they did a horrible black out, where it looks like it was scribble out with a large brush. If you look closely you can see a lil "red" mark in there still were they missed a spot... now that just bad.

 

Nothing wrong with doing that....tons of conpanies do it, and badly I might add. That isn't the first kit they have ripped off, and won't be the last.

 

I'm also wondering about copyright issues. Someone at TK made that image and owns it right? One thing I suppose to make a kit based on another kit, but to rip off the same image...

 

Yeah, that chop is horrible. Making cheaper versions of kits, rims, whatever will go on long after they get sued. i mean you can get a Blitz front end for an eclipse from like, 10 different companies.

On a side note, Chargespeed makes a damn nice kit for the new Impreza, too.

 

It's a nice design, so I'm not surprised they're stealing .. copying, whatever. But the least they could have done was make a new image or take a picture of it on an actual Impreza instead of a poorly edited Photochopped image. I could have also sworn they were pissed at RRM cause they have a similar kit for the 04+ Lancers. Or was that the other way around...

 

its not only accolade that does it, a LOT of body companies do.

 

yes i know alot do, specially if u ever look on ebay, hell peopel are copying accolade's body kits for god sakes...

 

wow i wanna buy a wrx just so i can buy a front end that doesn't fit from our dear sponsor accolade to make a bar table out of it

 

wow subarus are so lame

 

wow ... you brought this back just to make a stupid "EVOZ R BETERR THEN TEH STIIIIII!!!!1!!!" comment with nothing to back it up.

 

^ouch...lol...closed minded people are teh lame

 

I hope you don't mean I'm "teh lame" cause I aint shouting Evo for life. I own a Subaru now because I wanted to upgrade from the ES to either a RA or 2.5i. 170HP, AWD, lower insurance, more standard features, and better resale value sold me on the Suby. However the Evo vs STI debate is a whole different game.

 

what makes you think they can do that when they're unable to properly copy that photo of TK? lol. Sad, but that's business

 

I guess if I were TK and owned the copyright to the image I would sue Accolade's *** off for stealing art then doing a sloppy photochop to claim it as their own.