Look-alikes, counterfeits in disguise?

Today’s consumers are constantly prowling around to see what's new on the market. The quest to satisfy these consumers drives innovators to create new products at an ever increasing rate. Imitators are just as eager to relieve these consumers of their hard-earned cash and they do this by copying branded products but not slavishly, just enough to confuse the consumer into thinking this is the real thing or it looks so similar it's probably "almost" the real thing and anyway the price is good. Look-alikes are disguised to deceive, but aren't these the same tactics used by counterfeiters and pirates?