On the ballpoint shown in the advertising, the cap top is missing, and the clip also does not correspond to the original; that speaks clearly for a counterfeit or at least for an unauthorised third-party product. There are indeed hints of an American manufacturer that fits a similar three-ring configuration, but the three rings are largely protected by trademark law for Montblanc; known is e.g. that Diplomat's model 'Senator' could no longer be distributed because of too great proximity to the 149. Comparable plagiarisms are additionally regularly observed in Asian markets like Shanghai or Bangkok. Montblanc in cases of confusion danger generally consistently takes action against violations.