With products which have been patented and have become famous or even iconic, exact copying can be perceived as parasitic and/or confusing to the public. Rights owners often try to prolong their monopoly with successful products either through trademark law or through unfair competition law.
Slavish imitation, freedom of competition and the Lego brick. In: Broek B. van den, Dack S., Eijsvogels F., Hirschfeld A. (Eds.) Willem Hoyng Litigator. Amsterdam: deLex, 2013. p.282-300.