Please don’t hesitate, to contact me with any questions. tabcbelts@yahoo.com
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked by a customer over the years if I would make for them, a replica of Rick Flair’s “Big Gold” Championship Title belt, I would have probably only had to build that one belt design. Not really, but you get the point. So, why is this belt, The Big Gold Belt, not a belt design that you can get your hands on here at TABC Belts. Well, it is very simply. I, James T Clement, am NOT a criminal, nor do I hold a licensing agreement with either the original or current design owner. In fact, The Big Gold Championship belt, is one of many that you can not order here from TABC Belts, and all for the exact same reason.
Here is a brief descriptor I found with a one shot search on google;
The Big Gold Belt, most famously associated with Rick Flair, was originally designed and created by Charles Crumrine, a silversmith. Jim Crockett Promotions commissioned Crumrine to create the belt for Ric Flair in 1985.
And there it is, the why. I simply have no legal right to reproduce this belt. It would be a crime, a crime that comes with fairly stiff penalties. Intellectual Property Crime.
No where on planet Earth is this considered a legal thing that you can just, do. I've pasted in both National and International penalties at the end of this, if that is the sort of thing you want to read.
That brings me neatly to the hell scape we saw begin to open up back in 2015. When individuals in the country Pakistan and China, began just slinging the cheapest versions of this, and all the other belts you see in the big organizations. I am going to be, very honest, if you were to sit down, pen and paper, and begin laying out a design for a championship belt, all your own, I fully support you in this effort. Hell, I might even promote you here and there. But, if you are just taking the property of better Men than you, and just making it for as cheap as you possibly can, undercutting all your other, building them as cheap as they can cohorts. You are NOT a Championship Belt maker, you are NOT an artist and you are NOT even legitimate business person, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL! PERIOD, FULL STOP!!! If you had even the amount of integrity that a typical person has interest in doing their own laundry, you would NEVER have even started down this criminal road you are on to begin with, and you certainly would NOT continue it now! Is this what you want to be remembered for? Because you are NOT going to ever be remembered as, the best. If you are very, very lucky, you might be remembered as…the cheapest. That what you want? Is that the thing you believe, will bring honor upon your family name and make you Father proud? Being, the cheapest? That really gonna be, your legacy? Really? I am NOT saying, you should not be making Championship belts, I Am saying, you should NOT steal other Men’s property!!! Let me tell you something, TABC Belts put out GENERATION 2 back in the day, and I am straight up telling you now, your work is fake! And if I can say that, due to GEN 2, YOU GOT A PROBLEM! I have no respect for you or yur so called, work. And if what i am saying to you hurts your feelings, count yourself, lucky, that I actually have some class, because trust me my guy, I’m GEN X, and I could easily word all this, far much worse. And to the folks settling for these belts. Do you really want a belt that was made in some sweat shop by a bunch of apathetic guys slaving away under duress? No passion, no love put into the belt, what so ever? A design stolen from better Men and made by criminals? Really? You want the thing that represents your organizations greatest prize to have gotten it’s start…in that place? OK…but as for me, I’m just hopeful that this nightmare fever dream we’ve been suffering through, thanks to this criminal activity, has about played itself out. So no, you can not acquire the Big Gold Belt, the WWE winged eagle, the WCW US, WWF Intercontinental, AEW World belt, none of them, none. And, I’ve NEVER even had the temptation to seek out any licensing deal to reproduce any of these belts, because the designs I personally came up with, the ones you see on this site today, have sold like funnel cakes since the beginning. I AM, a Belt Maker, but you guys overseas, doing what you are doing, how dare you call you self a “rassling belt maker.” You are a knock off artist at absolute best. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It is not enough that you can get away with a thing if nobody ever notices, because, YOU…will notice. If you need someone looking over your shoulder to do that right thing, then I’ve got nothing for you, and in fact, I am going to legit put a lot of effort into bringing your sales to zero. OK, let us begin…
Definition: Intellectual property (IP) crime, often referred to as IP theft, involves the unauthorized use, exploitation, or theft of creative works, ideas, trade secrets, and other proprietary information protected by IP laws. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including counterfeiting, piracy, and the theft of trade secrets. Penalties in the United States: In the United States, intellectual property crimes, such as copyright infringement or trade secret theft, are punishable by fines and imprisonment, with penalties varying depending on the severity of the offense and the type of intellectual property involved. Here's a more detailed look: Copyright Infringement: Federal Penalties: First-time offenders can face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Previous offenders can face up to 10 years in prison and the same fine. Misdemeanors: Penalties for misdemeanors can include up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Civil Remedies: Infringement can also lead to civil penalties, including damages for lost profits and potentially punitive damages, according to EM Law. Trade Secret Theft: Federal Penalties: Individuals can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Businesses can face fines up to $5 million or three times the value of the trade secret, whichever is greater, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Other Intellectual Property Offenses: Sentencing Guidelines: The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, specifically Sections 2B5.3 and 2B1.1, are used to calculate and sentence most intellectual property offenses, including copyright, trademark, counterfeit, and trade secret theft. Offense Level Adjustments: The base offense level is adjusted based on the "infringement amount," which is an estimate of the magnitude of the infringement. Economic Espionage Act: The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 criminalizes the misappropriation of trade secrets and provides penalties of up to $5 million in fines for businesses and 10 years in prison for individuals, according to the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC. Important Considerations: Severity of the Offense: The penalties for intellectual property crimes vary depending on the severity of the offense and the harm caused. Intent: In some cases, the prosecution may need to demonstrate the defendant's intent to infringe on intellectual property rights. Defense Strategies: Effective defense strategies often focus on demonstrating a lack of intent, challenging the prosecution's evidence, or arguing that the accused did not know their actions were unlawful, according to Amburgey Law. INTERNATIONAL PENALTIES: International property crimes, particularly intellectual property theft, can lead to severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment. The Department of Justice and the Economic Espionage Act outline penalties for offenses like trade secret theft, which can result in fines up to $5 million and imprisonment for up to 15 years. Criminal copyright infringement can also lead to substantial fines and prison time. Elaboration: Trade Secret Theft: . The Economic Espionage Act (EEA) criminalizes the theft of trade secrets, especially if done for the benefit of a foreign government or to benefit others commercially. Penalties include fines up to $5 million and imprisonment up to 15 years. Criminal Copyright Infringement: . Infringing on copyrights can also lead to criminal charges, with potential penalties including prison time and large fines. For repeat offenders, penalties can be significantly increased, according to Justia. International Criminal Court: . The International Criminal Court (ICC) can also impose penalties for international crimes, including those involving property. The ICC can sentence individuals to up to 30 years of imprisonment, and in exceptional cases, a life sentence, according to the International Criminal Court. Examples of Property Crimes with International Implications: Intellectual Property Theft: This can involve stealing trade secrets, copyright, or patents. Cybercrime: This includes hacking, malware, and other online offenses that can target intellectual property or other assets. Smuggling: This involves illegally transporting goods across borders, which can include counterfeit goods or stolen intellectual property
That brings me neatly to the hell scape we saw begin to open up back in 2015. When individuals in the country Pakistan and China, began just slinging the cheapest versions of this, and all the other belts you see in the big organizations. I am going to be, very honest, if you were to sit down, pen and paper, and begin laying out a design for a championship belt, all your own, I fully support you in this effort. Hell, I might even promote you here and there. But, if you are just taking the property of better Men than you, and just making it for as cheap as you possibly can, undercutting all your other, building them as cheap as they can cohorts. You are NOT a Championship Belt maker, you are NOT an artist and you are NOT even legitimate business person, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL! PERIOD, FULL STOP!!! If you had even the amount of integrity that a typical person has interest in doing their own laundry, you would NEVER have even started down this criminal road you are on to begin with, and you certainly would NOT continue it now! Is this what you want to be remembered for? Because you are NOT going to ever be remembered as, the best. If you are very, very lucky, you might be remembered as…the cheapest. That what you want? Is that the thing you believe, will bring honor upon your family name and make you Father proud? Being, the cheapest? That really gonna be, your legacy? Really? I am NOT saying, you should not be making Championship belts, I Am saying, you should NOT steal other Men’s property!!! Let me tell you something, TABC Belts put out GENERATION 2 back in the day, and I am straight up telling you now, your work is fake! And if I can say that, due to GEN 2, YOU GOT A PROBLEM! I have no respect for you or yur so called, work. And if what i am saying to you hurts your feelings, count yourself, lucky, that I actually have some class, because trust me my guy, I’m GEN X, and I could easily word all this, far much worse. And to the folks settling for these belts. Do you really want a belt that was made in some sweat shop by a bunch of apathetic guys slaving away under duress? No passion, no love put into the belt, what so ever? A design stolen from better Men and made by criminals? Really? You want the thing that represents your organizations greatest prize to have gotten it’s start…in that place? OK…but as for me, I’m just hopeful that this nightmare fever dream we’ve been suffering through, thanks to this criminal activity, has about played itself out. So no, you can not acquire the Big Gold Belt, the WWE winged eagle, the WCW US, WWF Intercontinental, AEW World belt, none of them, none. And, I’ve NEVER even had the temptation to seek out any licensing deal to reproduce any of these belts, because the designs I personally came up with, the ones you see on this site today, have sold like funnel cakes since the beginning. I AM, a Belt Maker, but you guys overseas, doing what you are doing, how dare you call you self a “rassling belt maker.” You are a knock off artist at absolute best. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It is not enough that you can get away with a thing if nobody ever notices, because, YOU…will notice. If you need someone looking over your shoulder to do that right thing, then I’ve got nothing for you, and in fact, I am going to legit put a lot of effort into bringing your sales to zero. OK, let us begin…
Definition: Intellectual property (IP) crime, often referred to as IP theft, involves the unauthorized use, exploitation, or theft of creative works, ideas, trade secrets, and other proprietary information protected by IP laws. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including counterfeiting, piracy, and the theft of trade secrets. Penalties in the United States: In the United States, intellectual property crimes, such as copyright infringement or trade secret theft, are punishable by fines and imprisonment, with penalties varying depending on the severity of the offense and the type of intellectual property involved. Here's a more detailed look: Copyright Infringement: Federal Penalties: First-time offenders can face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Previous offenders can face up to 10 years in prison and the same fine. Misdemeanors: Penalties for misdemeanors can include up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Civil Remedies: Infringement can also lead to civil penalties, including damages for lost profits and potentially punitive damages, according to EM Law. Trade Secret Theft: Federal Penalties: Individuals can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Businesses can face fines up to $5 million or three times the value of the trade secret, whichever is greater, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Other Intellectual Property Offenses: Sentencing Guidelines: The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, specifically Sections 2B5.3 and 2B1.1, are used to calculate and sentence most intellectual property offenses, including copyright, trademark, counterfeit, and trade secret theft. Offense Level Adjustments: The base offense level is adjusted based on the "infringement amount," which is an estimate of the magnitude of the infringement. Economic Espionage Act: The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 criminalizes the misappropriation of trade secrets and provides penalties of up to $5 million in fines for businesses and 10 years in prison for individuals, according to the Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC. Important Considerations: Severity of the Offense: The penalties for intellectual property crimes vary depending on the severity of the offense and the harm caused. Intent: In some cases, the prosecution may need to demonstrate the defendant's intent to infringe on intellectual property rights. Defense Strategies: Effective defense strategies often focus on demonstrating a lack of intent, challenging the prosecution's evidence, or arguing that the accused did not know their actions were unlawful, according to Amburgey Law. INTERNATIONAL PENALTIES: International property crimes, particularly intellectual property theft, can lead to severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment. The Department of Justice and the Economic Espionage Act outline penalties for offenses like trade secret theft, which can result in fines up to $5 million and imprisonment for up to 15 years. Criminal copyright infringement can also lead to substantial fines and prison time. Elaboration: Trade Secret Theft: . The Economic Espionage Act (EEA) criminalizes the theft of trade secrets, especially if done for the benefit of a foreign government or to benefit others commercially. Penalties include fines up to $5 million and imprisonment up to 15 years. Criminal Copyright Infringement: . Infringing on copyrights can also lead to criminal charges, with potential penalties including prison time and large fines. For repeat offenders, penalties can be significantly increased, according to Justia. International Criminal Court: . The International Criminal Court (ICC) can also impose penalties for international crimes, including those involving property. The ICC can sentence individuals to up to 30 years of imprisonment, and in exceptional cases, a life sentence, according to the International Criminal Court. Examples of Property Crimes with International Implications: Intellectual Property Theft: This can involve stealing trade secrets, copyright, or patents. Cybercrime: This includes hacking, malware, and other online offenses that can target intellectual property or other assets. Smuggling: This involves illegally transporting goods across borders, which can include counterfeit goods or stolen intellectual property