Readers’ Views
Woolies’ response to baby carrier scandal leaves much to be desired
If Woolworths staff did this [introduce a baby carrier that the retailer admitted bore “striking similarities” to one made by a local entrepreneur] on their own without management approval, they should be fired for embarrassing the company and tarnishing its image.
We are all quick to demand that the heads of government officials roll, but the same must happen in the private sector. If management was aware of and approved the “IP theft”, they should also fall on their swords.
Pieter Joubert, on businesslive
Woolworths, this is not about “striking similarities”. Call it what it is: outright, blatant and disgusting intellectual property theft.
Don’t talk about strengthening controls — this isn’t the first time, and those are only the reported cases.
How about some integrity and transparency?
How about a “pay back the money” moment?
How about a statement from the CEO stating that in future anyone found doing something similar will be dismissed immediately?
They say a fish rots from the head. You can’t just talk about ethical behaviour and then turn a blind eye — you have to live by the principles.
Nick Steen, on businesslive
The cross these shoes must bear
As a prime target for Green Cross products (mature; slender feet but with restricted movement; can afford the prices), I frequently take a look in their shop in our local mall — and walk out without buying anything “Green Cross keeps the name, cuts the workers” (December 9 2018).
Why? Because the designs are either aimed at the very trendy, and are much cheaper elsewhere, or they are incredibly old-fashioned and depressing, and I wouldn’t be seen dead in them.
I’m really sorry skilled workers are losing their jobs — what a pity the company has no director with an eye for elegance.
Mrs S MacDonald, Wilderness
Not-so-happy new year
Almost every peaceful invention over the past 1,000 years has been turned into a weapon of war to decimate mankind in the name of political dominance.
Man split the atom and created the atomic bomb. The airplane was invented, which gave birth to fighter aircraft and bombers that incinerated cities and killed more than a billion people. Commercial jet aircraft came into being and, as an aerial weapon, destroyed the Twin Towers in an unprecedented display of insanity.
The motor vehicle is being used as a military platform to blast humans to smithereens. Drones are now soaring through our skies — inevitably, they will be used to attack civilians with toxic and biological agents. Electric and driverless vehicles will propel hitech remote warfare into a new dimension.
Man’s ingenuity and thirst for dominance will usher in a sinister form of asymmetric capabilities, using TNT, lasers, gas, chemicals and money as weapons to secure complete global dominance. This year will witness tragedies of unprecedented proportions.
Farouk Araie, Johannesburg WRITE TO: PO BOX 1742, Saxonwold 2132. SMS: 33971 E-MAIL: letters@businesstimes.co.za.