Seacraft Knockoffs

[Hookdude]

Today I checked out and helped weld a radar bracket on a used boat a friend recently purchased. It's a 89 22' Seawolf made by Watkins. It has a variable deadrise hull with reversed chines the forward 3/4 of it's length. Looking at the stern, it could easily be mistaken for a 23 Seacraft. Which got me wondering.....

How can other companies get away with copying the VDR design? Isn't this "pattern infringement" on some level?

Also, what other companies have copied the Seacraft design? I know Silverhawk did (nice boat BTW). And I remember seeing a boat at the Ft.Myers boat show a few years back that was similar to a Seacraft 20 but I don't recall the make. (Sailfish? Not sure.)

How's the quality, ride, etc. of these imposters?

Cheers,
Bob