Hey guys, I probably should have asked this before doing what I've been doing, but please hear me out and opinions are GREATLY appreciated. (And sorry if this is the wrong forum).
Short Question; Is the production of new bootleg Muscle Figures frowned upon if clearly presented as bootleg.
Long Question; I'm a freelance Illustrator and recently started producing toys of my own design. I also collect bootleg Muscle Men. Every time I pour a figure, I have overpour resin that I've been putting into smaller molds of bootleg muscle men as to not waste resin and recap production costs. I've been packaging them with headers that are goofy plays off bootleg packaging and poorly translated korean, and in the item listings, use the word bootleg frequently. While I am well aware this is theft of intellectual property, as collectors, am I being an asshole? To try and curb this I made an amalgamation figure, Dieneruman, but just want to hear what die-hard collectors have to say. Pics below.
Thank you to anybody who responds.
P.S. - I traded my claw bootleg, and was told after that it's a figure almost never bootlegged, so if anybody has one they want to part with (specifically a bootleg) let me know.