Seven Towns sponsors the speed-cubing world championships an evolving showcase for knockoffs to generate publicity for the real deal.

WSJ: One Rubik's Cube, Many Knockoffs, Quintillions of Possibilities

In the early days of speed-cubing the 1980s pioneers first pried open cubes, sanded corners and greased joints with globs of petroleum jelly to allow faster, smoother moves.

WSJ: One Rubik's Cube, Many Knockoffs, Quintillions of Possibilities

"The ones you buy online come with springs and screws so you can adjust them, " said former world champion Breandan Vallance from Scotland, who took up cubing to travel the world.

WSJ: One Rubik's Cube, Many Knockoffs, Quintillions of Possibilities

Or piggyback on the phenomenon of competitive speed-cubing?

WSJ: One Rubik's Cube, Many Knockoffs, Quintillions of Possibilities