Why do White Realforce TKL boards have Leopold logo on them?

[jameslr]

All of this talk about Leopold and Topre Realforce got me curious why my Realforce has a Leopold logo on the underside label like this:



Anyone have any idea? My only guess is that Leopold somehow distributes the white TKL ones. The black ones and the 104's don't have the same logo on the underside from the pictures I've seen.

[CPTBadAss]

Whoa, that's really weird. Maybe they have a distribution rights and just slap a sticker on it?

[esoomenona]

Leopold makes Realforce.

[TimIsABat]

That would explain the lack of a Realforce 60% cause they already have the FC660C. Still hoping they make one with a Poker layout-ish keyboard. That would sell like hotcakes.

[jameslr]

Leopold makes Realforce.

I thought Topre makes Realforce? Or does Topre just make the switches? Why are the other Realforce boards not branded Leopold then?

[MJ45]

The newer Black ones have the same Leopold name on their sticker also.

[esoomenona]

Is Topre the one who is making Type Heaven? Maybe they used to make Realforce boards then sold the brand off to Leopold and starting making Type Heaven? I'm not sure. All I know is every Realforce board I've seen said Leopold on the back of it, including the 10th anniversary editions.

[meiosis]

Realforce 87u was released as Korea only, and from then on it carried the leopold logo, maybe they own distribution rights for Realforce in Korea

[IvanIvanovich]

Leopold does not make Realforce, they are simply a distributor with the privilege of being able to request specific features that Topre makes to order for them. So they have some small difference that you won't get from a Realforce not bought though Leopold/EK. Even if it is something as trivial as stock keycap colors. Similarly there are Realforce that are made for Diatec, Just, Sigma and some others that are not carried by Leopold and vice versa.
Think of them like the Das II. It was a G80, made by Cherry but Das got to slap their logo on it because it was a special made to order edition for them exclusively.
At least that is how I understand it to be.

[eth0s]

Topre is a large conglomerate corporation.  They make auto parts and other things besides keyboards.  If you go to their website, you can see what I mean. 

Topre: http://www.topre.co.jp/e/products/comp/realforce_index.html

Topre makes and sells the 23U (white numpad), 23UB (black numpad), 86U (white), 103U (white) [discontinued], 105U (white), 105UB (black)  RealForce keyboards, and they consider the 87U (and I guess the 104U too) to be a "cutomized Realforce keyboard".  They have several distributors/ customizers listed, inlcuding Leopold.  [lol, in typical Japanese fashion they have in BOLD letters "KOREA Leopold".  They want everyone to know Leopold is not Japanese.] 

From what I know of Japanese coporations, they love to have licensed distributors sell their products.  This is a very old-fashioned model for selling products, as it predates the internet.  With internet sales, you no longer need global distribution licensees, but w/e, the Japanese love tradition, and are slow to change. 

*NOTE:  I am not anti-Japanese.  I love Japan, and the Japanese people, but I also have to point out their cultural idiosyncrasies.

[keymaster]

That would explain the lack of a Realforce 60% cause they already have the FC660C. Still hoping they make one with a Poker layout-ish keyboard. That would sell like hotcakes.

I have a feeling that their next Topre keyboard might be a 60% because of how in-demand Poker/60% keyboards are.

[esoomenona]

Topre is a large conglomerate corporation.  They make auto parts and other things besides keyboards.  If you go to their website, you can see what I mean. 

Topre: http://www.topre.co.jp/e/products/comp/realforce_index.html

Topre makes and sells the 23U (white numpad), 23UB (black numpad), 86U (white), 103U (white) [discontinued], 105U (white), 105UB (black)  RealForce keyboards, and they consider the 87U (and I guess the 104U too) to be a "cutomized Realforce keyboard".  They have several distributors/ customizers listed, inlcuding Leopold.  [lol, in typical Japanese fashion they have in BOLD letters "KOREA Leopold".  They want everyone to know Leopold is not Japanese.] 

From what I know of Japanese coporations, they love to have licensed distributors sell their products.  This is a very old-fashioned model for selling products, as it predates the internet.  With internet sales, you no longer need global distribution licensees, but w/e, the Japanese love tradition, and are slow to change. 

*NOTE:  I am not anti-Japanese.  I love Japan, and the Japanese people, but I also have to point out their cultural idiosyncrasies.

I notice particularly on that site that the 23UB is never mentioned to be discontinued. SO WHY CAN'T I FIND ONE!?