Funny knock off brands

There’s an art to creating knock-off brands, and it’s an art most people should really leave unfinished. Yet, here we are, wading through a world of “Mike” shoes, “Subway” sandwiches with a suspiciously off-color logo, and “Polystation” consoles that are basically glorified doorstops. There’s something almost admirable in the boldness of these funny knock-off brands—like, yes, it’s technically illegal, but also, how did you even think of this? Designers who craft these brands must have nerves of steel and a total disregard for intellectual property law. Or maybe it’s just a total disregard for spelling. Either way, nothing says “I’m not a lawyer” like opening a store called “Starbocks” with an upside-down mermaid logo. So pour yourself a tall cup of “Sunbucks” and scroll on—these knock-off brand fails will make you appreciate both the audacity and the comedy in failing upwards.

This gallery is a walk through the uncanny valley of commerce, with 30 knock-off brands so bad they deserve a spot in a bootleg museum. Here, “Pumma” shoes, “Pizza Hat” restaurants, and “Sorny” electronics reign supreme. There’s an entire ecosystem of funny knock-off brands, brand fails, counterfeit logos, and the kind of fake brands that might just fall apart in the bag on the way home. Some of these are so close to the real thing you’ll feel like you’re in a parallel universe; others are so off, you’ll wonder if copyright infringement is a cry for help. Each photo is a tribute to creativity without consequence, brand ambition without boundaries, and absolutely zero spell check. Whether it’s luxury items or lunchboxes, these knock-offs are a celebration of trying, failing, and not being sued—yet.

You just scrolled through 30 of the boldest knock-off brands to ever grace a bargain bin. You cringed, you laughed, and you probably saw something you’d ironically buy as a gag gift. Maybe you recognized some logos from your last trip to the dollar store—or maybe you’re now second-guessing that “Adibas” hoodie in your closet. Either way, you now have enough bootleg knowledge to avoid at least some copyright crimes, or at least to recognize a new breed of marketing genius. Go forth, and may your next shopping trip be lawsuit-free.

Need more retail ridiculousness? Dive into meme galleries about failed product launches, wild advertising blunders, cheap rip-off toys, or shopping disaster memes that’ll make you grateful for big brands… or at least for spellcheck.