counterfeit consumer goods
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more than one - quarter of survey respondents unknowingly purchased inauthentic consumer goods online .
founded in 2005, consumerist® is an independent source of consumer news and information published by consumer reports .
a new report from the european consumer centres network focuses on the impact of counterfeiting on individual consumer shopping online .
globally, the trafficking of counterfeit goods is much larger, and growing. that growth is driven in part by consumer demand .
counterfeit goods valued at dh1. 6 billion were seized in 2016 in raids by consumer protection officers. antonie robertson / the national
counterfeit goods are different from
knock off
goods which involve similar looking products but don’t have labels that would violate another company’s trademark. counterfeit goods exist in nearly every industry and can include :
counterfeit goods span across multiple industries including everything from apparel, accessories, music, software, medications and cigarettes, to automobile and airplane parts, consumer goods, toys and electronics .
make sure that the goods are not old, counterfeit, or discontinued models .
technavio market research analysts forecast the global anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market to grow at a cagr of almost 18% until 2021 .
stern lawyer said: “counterfeit goods and authentic looks almost exactly the same, except for the letters on different brands, counterfeit goods will penfolds benfolds unless the consumer has replaced the brand known, it will easily fooled. . ”
to help mark world consumer day (march 15th), the european consumer centres network (ecc - net) has launched its report, ‘the impact of counterfeiting on online consumer rights in europe’ .
technavio has published a new report on the global anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market from 2017 - 2021. (graphic: business wire )
brown said her agency’s goal was to prevent the counterfeit goods from ever reaching shelves .
apparel and fashion accessories still make up the largest share of counterfeit goods worldwide, but detection of fake consumer electronics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals is also increasing .
reduces false warranty claims and customer service costs that result from sub - standard counterfeit goods .
of course, apparel search is against counterfeit goods. don' t buy a knockoff .
correction: an earlier version of this story said customs and border protection seized 25, 000 counterfeit goods in 2011. the agency actually seized 25, 000 shipments of counterfeit goods .
a uk investigation suggests amazon, ebay and fruugo have a big counterfeit electrical goods problem .
for more information, contact us or read information booklet should you buy counterfeit goods? .
sixty percent of the total sample believed that the seller of counterfeit goods is aware that the goods are counterfeit, while an additional 25 percent reported they were not certain if the seller would know the good are counterfeit. only 15 percent of the respondents believed that the retail seller was unaware the goods were counterfeit .
technavio has published a new report on the global anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market from 2017 - 2021. (graphic: business wire) multimedia gallery url
for additional information on trademarks and your rights as a consumer, see findlaw' s
trademarks ,
and
consumer protection ” sections. for information on other forms of intellectual property, see findlaw' s
intellectual property
section. if you believe that you’ve been the victim of a counterfeit goods scheme or you simply have questions about counterfeit goods, you should consult with a consumer law attorney .
traders must ensure that descriptions of consumer goods and services are accurate and honest. descriptions are controlled by both criminal and civil legislation .
information for businesses about their rights and responsibilities under consumer laws in western australia .
you can target the consumer based on their behavior ,
dunkel said .
risk professionals should be interested in mitigating supply chain, financial and consumer risk .
a community website to share your views on the consumer issues of the day .
you must not sell counterfeit or pirated goods. using any registered trade mark without permission is illegal .
for the super bowl, federal agents prepped for the largest sporting - goods related counterfeit bust ever .
you can also report a website that you think may be selling counterfeit goods to brand - i .
chaudry, p. e. , & stumpf, s. a. (2011). consumer complicity with counterfeit products. the journal of consumer marketing, 28 (2), 139 - 151 .
if you think you have been sold counterfeit goods, or if you suspect somebody is selling fake goods, get advice from the citizens advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. your local trading standards office can also give you advice .
how do consumers around the globe respond to advertising campaigns aimed at discouraging the purchase of counterfeit goods? i’ve studied the manufacture and sale of counterfeit and pirated consumer goods and intellectual property for all of my academic career and decided to find out with a survey of 1, 786 consumers .
a major consumer goods manufacturer with multiple brands fights counterfeit sales, illicit marketing practices and the resulting brand erosion and revenue losses by using the markmonitor brand protection™ and markmonitor domain management™ solutions .
you can download the full report of the ecc - net on counterfeit goods for free with this link .
please contact us in confidence to report somebody you believe is selling illegal tobacco, alcohol or counterfeit goods .
2011— pub. l. 112–81 amended section generally, adding provisions relating to counterfeit military goods and services .
nearly 4 out of 10 consumers complain directly to the brand itself following an unwitting purchase of counterfeit goods .
technavio market research analysts forecast the global anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market to grow at a cagr of close to 18% during the forecast period, according to their latest report .
more than 100 charges were laid in connection with the sale of fake consumer goods worth an estimated $ 6. 5 million, police say .
consider increasing business - to - consumer direct sales to better control your supply chains .
we all experience frustrating consumer problems at some point in our daily lives. our guides provide information and advice on your consumer rights to help you navigate those everyday frustrations .
they can use social media platforms to get these counterfeit goods in front of the consumer. these are sophisticated criminal organizations ,
said gary hartwig, his special agent - in - charge .
in 2012, us customs & border protection and immigration & customs enforcement seized 22 848 shipments of counterfeit goods valued at usd 1. 26 billion. unfortunately, we also know that these represent only a small percentage of the total market for counterfeit goods. globally, the trafficking of counterfeit goods is much larger, and growing .
the european consumer centre slovakia (ecc) receives daily complaints from consumers who, either consciously or not, purchased counterfeit items, or never received products blocked by customs. to help consumers avoiding falling in the trap, the european consumer centre network now published a report on counterfeiting on online consumer rights in europe .
the customs authorities of the eu member states are in the front line in preventing ipr infringing goods from entering the eu market. nonetheless, the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods would not exist without consumer demand. play your part: don' t buy fakes .
often a telltale sign of a counterfeit good is the unreasonably low price. counterfeit goods can also be identified by the quality of their packaging and by the location where they are being sold. if you suspect that someone is producing or selling counterfeit goods, you can submit a report online to the national intellectual property rights coordination center. other federal agencies that investigate reports of counterfeit goods include :
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copyright © 2018 • european consumer centre slovakia pomáhame a radíme európskym spotrebiteľom. made by tricode
consumers should contact the citizens advice consumer service, which provides clear, practical advice to help sort out problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods or services .
some 562 cases regarding counterfeit goods were reported to the ecc - net from march to august 2016. counterfeit goods can be found in various consumer product lines – from medicine, cosmetics to children’s toys and automobile parts. the rise in popularity of ecommerce and cross - border online shopping has meant that it’s easier than ever for consumers to purchase counterfeit goods, and in some cases leaving them exposed to increased health and even customs penalties .
consumer protection recently attended an intellectual property rights workshop in perth where makers of products, particularly electrical items, showcased physical examples of genuine and non - genuine items to highlight the differences. the session was mainly to help australian border force officers detect counterfeit goods but we took away some consumer messages .
unlike luxury goods groups such as lvmh, which have the financial power to fight aggressively against fake goods, most vintners don’t .
find out more about how counterfeit goods are investigated by the police intellectual property crime unit at city of london police .
apart from reputable channel members, there are also
unauthorized
channel members who intentionally buy, distribute, and sell counterfeit goods. here, the channels are likely to be shorter, and less formal than authorized channels. there are consumers who will unknowingly purchase counterfeit goods from these channel members, and there are consumers who will knowingly purchase counterfeit goods .
ecc ireland is co - funded by the competition and consumer protection commission and the european commission .
state support and consumer awareness about unethical manufacturing practices are key, according to matam - finn .
counterfeit goods may have a reputation for poor design, unsafe parts and toxic elements, but consumers don’t seem to mind .
customs may intercept and destroy packages containing counterfeit goods. as a consequence, consumers don’t receive the order they paid for .
the new report examines how counterfeiting affects eu consumers when they shop online. this includes the risk to the consumer, how to recognise fake products online and avoid buying them, your consumer rights and what to do if you accidentally buy counterfeit products. the report also features examples from consumers throughout the eu and what initiatives are in place to inform consumers about counterfeit goods .
certain consumer goods, especially very expensive or desirable brands such as coach, gucci, and louis vuitton, or those that are easy to reproduce cheaply, have become frequent and common targets of counterfeiting. the counterfeiters either attempt to deceive the consumer into thinking they are purchasing a legitimate item, or convince the consumer that they could deceive others with the imitation .
chinese counterfeiting now costs foreign firms an estimated $ 20 billion a year in lost profits .
in the case of one consumer goods manufacturer, as much as 70 percent of the goods on the market are counterfeits ,
said scholz .
the consumer goods, apparel, spare parts and luxury products industries have also encountered counterfeit products. counterfeit consumer goods can create health and safety risks. milk, toothpaste, cigarettes and beverages are just some examples of goods found to have tainted or toxic chemicals, such as arsenic, diethylene glycol and methanol. other examples include toys having lead paint, smart phones with counterfeit batteries that overheat and pose a burn hazard, computers with fake component parts, counterfeit airbags that do not deploy or inflate improperly and car brake pads with inferior and unreliable pads. these counterfeit products were not only inferior products but were also dangerous to the public and resulted in consumers’ complaints being directed to the brand owner .
if customers can verify that they' ve bought counterfeit goods, amazon will push sellers to refund the purchase or they kick the sellers off the site ,
said price, who also owns a stake in alibaba .
amazon does stick up for the consumer. they put the consumer first, not the merchant .
fake products damage more than your brand reputation — they erode consumer trust and even jeopardize public health .
in this report, the consumer is informed about the risks of buying counterfeit products online, intentionally or not. counterfeit product means that the product looks like the original, but is made without the permission of the person who invented the goods or retains the intellectual property of the product .
trademark any word, name, or symbol used by a manufacturer to identify his goods and to distinguish them from the goods sold by others .
all things considered, counterfeit goods are extremely harmful to the health and safety of the american people. counterfeit products are not only harmful to the economy, but also to each individual’s well being. it is important that consumers understand the multi - faceted complexities of counterfeit markets: the economic impact on businesses, the enormity of counterfeit internet sales, and the significance that counterfeit medications present in health and safety issues. by spreading the word about the harm caused by counterfeit goods, people could potentially put an end to these lucrative industries of counterfeit products .
andreasen, a. r. (1977) ,
a taxonomy of consumer satisfaction / dissatisfaction measures ,
journal of consumer affairs, ii, no. 2 (winter), 11 - 24 .
the sale of counterfeit goods — from luxury and sporting goods to everyday items like shampoo and cigarettes — thrives on the internet. in fact, criminals have created a virtual supply chain with fake goods being sold in bulk to wholesalers on popular business - to - business (b2b) marketplaces and then resold to consumers via fraudulent listings on consumer marketplaces or rogue e - commerce websites .
an undercover lapd officer who could not reveal his identity said that gang members also use the money from counterfeit goods to buy cars .
in dealing with counterfeit goods on the internet, the international trademark association also provides a helpful list of best practices for search engines, companies with websites, credit card companies (payment service providers) and trademark owners to help identify counterfeit goods and prevent their distribution .
who can you turn to when your counterfeit products become defective? traders who sell fake goods do not usually respect your guarantee rights .
area port director lisa beth brown said the best defense against purchasing these frequently counterfeited items is consumer vigilance .
the united states says china is the no. 1 offender in sales of counterfeit goods, but that the goods are also traded in south korea, pakistan and india. the issue has become a major trade dispute
the report focuses on the impact of counterfeiting on individual consumer shopping online. the main purpose is to raise awareness among consumers of the possible effects of buying counterfeit products :
dubai / / millions of counterfeit mobile phones, cigarettes, cosmetics and other items valued at dh1. 6 billion were seized last year in raids by consumer protection officers .
belk, r. w. (1983 )
three scales to measure constructs related to materialism
in advances in consumer research (t. kinnear, ed .) vol. 11, association for consumer research .
britons spend £90 millions a year on counterfeit toys and goods for christmas that could put lives at risk, a government watchdog has warned .
a canadian chamber of commerce report released in july found 80 per cent of counterfeit goods in canada are manufactured in china, evans said .
imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2. 5% of global imports .
this report covers all physical counterfeit goods, which infringe trademarks, design rights or patents, and tangible pirated products, which breach copyright .
cherry brand from australia, new south wales hundred terui te cherry box (biteriot) has also been confirmed in china found counterfeit goods .
to see a media article highlighting the seizure of alleged counterfeit goods from a residential property go to the chronicle of the 13 february 2018 .
one of the largest threats posed by counterfeit goods is consumer safety. fake medicine, for example, often contains the wrong dosage of a certain ingredient or lacks a key ingredient altogether. consumers who purchase counterfeit pharmaceutical products are at risk of being treated incorrectly, of overdose, and even death. u. s. law enforcement seized 2, 401 shipments of counterfeit pharmaceutical and personal care goods in 2016, the sixth most of any product category .
the three consumer groups — consumers union, consumer federation of america, and u. s. public interest group — said they “agree that consumers should not be harmed by substandard or counterfeit goods, ” but they were “concerned that some of the measures proposed by this bill and the breadth of its scope could make it more likely to harm consumers’ interests. ”
cbp and hsi protect businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive ipr enforcement program. cbp targets and seizes imports of counterfeit and pirated goods, and enforces exclusion orders on patent - infringing and other ipr violative goods .
an expert guide to your consumer rights with free tools and advice for what to do if things go wrong .
counterfeiting is a federal and state crime, involving the manufacturing or distribution of goods under someone else' s name, and without their permission. counterfeit goods are generally made from lower quality components, in an attempt to sell a cheap imitation of similar goods produced by brands consumers know and trust .
when it comes to total dollar value, consumer electronics make up the bulk of counterfeit goods imported into the u. s. , according to customs and border protection. among the hottest items: smart phones, tablet computers and dvd or music players .
bascap works with a wide range of stakeholders from the supply chain to formulate best practices for their roles and responsibilities in relation to counterfeit goods .
to see a press article highlighting the conviction of a city centre retailer caught with counterfeit goods go to the chronicle of the 24 july 2016 .
right holders may bill the costs related to the destruction of the fake goods .
gray market goods are defined as items manufactured abroad and imported into the us without the consent of the trademark holder. gray market goods are not counterfeits; however, differences may exist between these goods and those goods produced for american sale. some of these differences may involve warranty coverage or compliance with us regulatory requirements .
the aim of the research was to explore and understand the online buying behaviour of consumer goods including make up, toiletries, vitamins, supplements and medicines, outside of the typical supermarket shopping environment .
the results suggest a wide range of beliefs about the origins of counterfeit products, their distribution, and the potential consequences from having counterfeit products in the marketplace. two - thirds of the total sample correctly responded that most counterfeit products are manufactured abroad and imported to the u. s. , while the remaining one - third did not know if these goods were domestic or imported. even of those who responded that counterfeit goods came primarily from abroad, 33 percent could not correctly name one country that is active in producing counterfeit goods. (taiwan and hong kong account for roughly 60 percent of counterfeit goods in the u. s. , and these countries were the two most often identified in the survey) .
in fiscal year 2013, the department of homeland security seized counterfeit goods valued at over $ 1. 7 billion at u. s. borders .
many counterfeit goods are sold at car boot sales, pubs, markets or fairs. this makes it difficult to trace the seller once you’ve bought .
we regularly visit shops, markets and car boot sales, to monitor for counterfeit and illegal goods. we also monitor popular auction and social websites .
based on the manufacturer' s suggested retail price (msrp) of the genuine versions of the counterfeit goods, some of the most valuable imitations were of handbags and wallets, watches and jewelry, and consumer electronics. 24 / 7 wall st. reviewed the nine most counterfeit items seized in 2013, based on their retail value .
the spread of counterfeit goods (commonly called
knockoffs
) has become global in recent years and the range of goods subject to infringement has increased significantly. apparel and accessories accounted for over 50 percent of the counterfeit goods seized by u. s customs and border control. according to the study of counterfeiting intelligence bureau (cib) of the international chamber of commerce (icc), counterfeit goods make up 5 to 7 percent of world trade, however these figures cannot be substantiated due to the secretive nature of the industry .
the number of shipments of certain products seized at the border can vary by hundreds and even thousands from year to year. as skinner wrote, “demand by consumers for particular goods drives the import of goods into the united states. counterfeiters take advantage of this demand. ” as consumer tastes and preferences change, so does the flow of fake goods into the country .
watch the premiere of
crime, inc: counterfeit goods ,
a cnbc special presentation hosted by carl quintanilla, wednesday july 14 at 9pm et .
it' s dangerous: counterfeit goods are often made using cheap, substandard, and dangerous components that put the health and safety of consumers at risk .
trademark infringement unauthorized use or imitation of the mark held by another on similar goods .
washington, july 31 (reuters) - the united states and china have joined forces in a combined operation to crack down on counterfeit goods, seizing more than 243, 000 fake electronics products, including popular consumer items made by apple, samsung, dr dre and blackberry .
the globalisation of manufacturing and rising food prices has increased the risk of counterfeiting. this is because the diversity of goods available, and therefore of suppliers, is significantly higher than in past decades, leaving companies facing fragmented control of manufacturers and extended supply chains. this climate has resulted in an opportunity for criminals to sell counterfeit consumer goods such as clothing, foodstuffs, cosmetic products, cigarettes, and pharmaceuticals, when previously only luxury goods were targeted .
while china receives most of the global criticism about counterfeit goods, market vendors throughout asia seem to agree that the best fake handbags are manufactured in south korea .
lapd investigations show that gangs are deep into the counterfeit goods business, enabling gang members to fund illegal activities. it takes low risk but yields high reward .
there is an ever - increasing range of goods being illegally copied. evidence shows that buying fake or counterfeit products has a negative effect on the community by :
to see two media articles highlighting the seizure of alleged counterfeit goods from a residential property go to the chronicle and tyne tees tv of the 17 november 2017 .
“alibaba took down around 400 million product listings and shut down more than 160, 000 taobao stores and 700 operators because of anti - counterfeiting measures in 2016. this will further trigger the demand for anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market during the forecast period, ” says sharan .
while counterfeit goods such as cds and dvds can easily produced at home, the main source for counterfeit toys and electrical products is china and the far east, mr terry said, with items being imported through europe by criminal gangs .
global consumer goods anti - counterfeit packaging market: the increasing use of anti - counterfeit packaging for food and beverage and cosmetic products will fuel the growth of this market segment. secure packaging helps to prevent counterfeiting and lowers the risk of loss for the manufacturers. the techniques used for secure packaging are namely overt, covert, and forensic features of the product packaging .
most fake goods originate in middle income or emerging countries, with china the top producer .
diamond, s. l. , s. ward, and r. faber, (1976) ,
consumer problems and consumerism: analysis of calls to a consumer rot line ,
journal of marketing, 30 (january), 58 - 62 .
more detailed and specific information on the various legislative requirements can be found by visiting our advice to consumers, fair trading, food and agriculture and consumer rights act webpages. you can also download the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations (pdf 44 kb) .
in the year between october 2005 and september 2006, the department of homeland security made 14, 000 seizures of counterfeit goods worth a total of $ 155 million .
the abc7 i - team uncovered fakes in your facebook feed and other social media sites. criminals are using them to try to con you into buying counterfeit goods .
more than £90 million is spent on counterfeit products each year, and in 2013 / 14 customs officials detained 21, 000 consignments of fake goods at uk borders .
to see two media articles highlighting the conviction of a business man found dealing with counterfeit goods go to the sunday sun and the mirror of the 11 june 2017 .
websites that sell counterfeit goods are often impossible to contact once they & apos; ve secured your cash, so getting a refund from the seller can be difficult .
so it' s really open to abuse by criminals who want to pretend they' re local, when they' re selling unsafe, counterfeit goods .
canale, general manager of the company warm cherry bramble said, “the origin of counterfeit goods is not clear so far. we are trying to find a supply of counterfeit production source, reducing the likelihood of future such situations again. ”
in the war against counterfeit goods, color accuracy and consistency can be an extremely powerful tool when combined with other anti - counterfeit packaging solutions. it can also help build your brand integrity, improve the customer experience and increase customer engagement .
counterfeiting is not just limited to consumer goods. industrial goods counterfeiting is also big business, and sometimes has disastrous economic consequences. ineffective counterfeit pesticides are estimated to have caused a 15 percent decrease in kenya' s coffee crop, their chief export crop for earning foreign exchange. the problem perpetuated itself when kenyan farmers, afraid that the ineffective counterfeit pesticides were dangerous, became reluctant to use any pesticides (kenyan weekly review, 1981). other problems with industrial counterfeit goods have been identified in the airline industry (harris, 1980), medical technology (hansen, 1978), and pharmaceuticals (lewis, 1979) .
the effect of this parallel system is that similar goods are available in the us at different prices. us customs regulations permit the importation of gray market goods with one exception. this exception protects the trademark holder in its contractual agreement with those firms which the trademark holder chooses to allow to manufacture its goods on the condition that the foreign manufacturer promises not to import the goods in the us. otherwise, the parallel importation of gray market goods is permissible .
enter sopa, in the u. s. house of representatives, and pipa, in the u. s. senate. both bills are aimed at foreign websites that infringe copyrighted material. the bills are commonly associated with media piracy, but may also apply to counterfeit consumer goods and medication .
large amounts of canadian, american and british cash as well as silver and gold bars were seized along with the consumer goods. so were about 50 fake u. s. and foreign country driver’s licences, police said .
our regulation pages help you arm yourself with knowledge of your consumer rights so you know what you’re entitled to when things go wrong .
“i have a right to a refund under the consumer rights act 2015, because this item doesn’t match its written / verbal description” .
a trader may have committed a criminal offence by selling you fake goods or by giving you a false description of the goods, so you may be entitled to a refund or exchange .
the business of counterfeit goods is one of the largest underground industries in the world and growing rapidly. the impact on the global economy is in the billions of dollars. this article examines the reasons why counterfeiting has become such a lucrative business, the negative and harmful effects counterfeit goods have on industries and consumers, as well as the difficulties encountered in apprehending and prosecuting offenders. the role of the consumer is explored as a key factor in curtailing the activities of counterfeiters .
the shoppers in these buildings know that they’re getting bogus goods, but many people who purchase counterfeit products do so unknowingly. according to susan scafidi, a fordham university law professor, the internet has made the sale of counterfeit goods more widespread than ever, as consumers using this retail channel can’t verify the authenticity of the product they’re buying .
despite the lack of statistics, there is no disputing that counterfeit goods pose a considerable threat to consumers and relies upon the exploitation of the young and the poor to manufacture its goods. the notion that it is a victimless crime is patently false. counterfeit products victimize almost everyone they encounter, from the assembly line to the cash register .
if you have paid by credit card, ask your card provider for a chargeback on the basis you unknowingly bought counterfeit goods / the item supplied is not as described .
companies who manufacture goods in china also need to take note: the loss of control over your supply chain can be disastrous. the un report specifically highlights the need for companies to introduce better and more secure technology to protect products and monitor the supply chain; the need for better consumer awareness and education; and the need to better police the online sales of consumer branded goods. some companies do this very well; others ignore it at their peril .
chances are you' ve probably seen a counterfeit good at one time or another. maybe you even inadvertently purchased one, only to find out later that it wasn' t the brand name product at an incredible price as advertised. with increased globalization spreading the manufacturing and sale of goods throughout the world and with the appeal of cheaper prices, counterfeiting has become a major industry. this is particularly true in the united states which has one of the largest markets for consumer goods. in 2013, the u. s. department of homeland security reported seizing over $ 1. 7 billion in counterfeit goods, and those were just the goods that were discovered .
counterfeit small appliances can be deadly. the consumer product safety commission (cpsc) has warned people for years about products that lack a ground - fault circuit interrupter (gfci), which protects against electrical shock .
the market study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global anti - counterfeit packaging in consumer goods market for 2017 - 2021. the report also lists authentication and traceability, as the two major anti - counterfeiting technology segments. the authentication segment dominated the market by more than 68% in 2016 .
and check the packaging – quite often counterfeit goods will have defective packaging. for example, boxes should be same size as a pair of boots. if they are being sold in different size boxes, they are likely to be counterfeit .
the maximum penalty for first - time offenders trafficking in counterfeit goods is 10 years in prison and a $ 2 million fine. for second - time offenders, the penalty is 20 years and a $ 5 million fine. in addition, if a corporation traffics in counterfeit goods, it can be subject to a fine of $ 15 million .
any description of the goods or services you supply must be true. a description may be :
the island - nation regularly conduct raids and arrests individuals found selling or distributing goods with falsely applied trademarks but despite the threat of police action, fake goods remain pervasive in various retail areas .
you’re legally entitled to a full refund on fake goods within 30 days of paying for them .
the corresponding increase in estimated value of goods was 15 per cent, about dh1. 01bn .
“trade in counterfeit and pirated goods: mapping the economic impact” puts the value of imported fake goods worldwide at usd 461 billion in 2013, compared with total imports in world trade of usd 17. 9 trillion. up to 5% of goods imported into the european union are fakes. most originate in middle income or emerging countries, with china the top producer .
some trading standards offices do have local drop - in centres. phone the consumer helpline to find out if there’s one in your area .
so when the market managers temporarily shut down 29 stalls over the past month for selling counterfeit goods, no one expected the merchants to acquiesce quietly to the loss of business .
fake designer bags are part of a $ 500 billion global trade in counterfeit goods, and the u. s. authorities say that some of that money is funding terrorism .
another source of insight to the development of effective strategy - for dealing with counterfeiting is an understanding of how counterfeit products get into the hands of consumers. there are a number of opportunities for counterfeiters to distribute their goods in the marketplace, and subsequently defraud consumers. figure 1 provides a framework to describe the methods by which counterfeit goods enter the marketplace. this figure can also serve as a systematic framework for researching counterfeit activities .
counterfeit drugs comprise an increasing percentage of the us drug market and even a larger percentage in less developed countries. counterfeit drugs involve both lifesaving and lifestyle drugs .
cbp, ice hsi report $ 1. 2 billion in counterfeit seizures in 2014
dubai raids net dh1. 6bn worth of counterfeit items in 2016 - the national
macinnis w. the counterfeit report. intellectual property crime investigator' s newsletter .
counterfeiting has become big business over the last few decades. according to the international chamber of commerce the projected value of global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods in 2015 was $ 1. 77 trillion. that’s right—trillion. counterfeit or gray market goods range from designer handbags to automotive parts to pharmaceuticals. it seems that no product is immune from the threat .
on the whole, the majority of beauty and cosmetics buyers show no interest or willingness to purchase fake goods, with 83% disclosing that they would not opt for non - genuine consumer items, such as make up and skin care .
counterfeit products also result in consumers paying higher prices for legitimate goods as companies bear the additional costs associated with improved packaging and the enforcement efforts used against counterfeiters. employees of companies targeted by counterfeiters are also affected with the potential loss of jobs due to reduced sales of legitimate goods and the unfair competition created by the sale of the counterfeit goods. the harmful effects created by the counterfeit products, the dangers to consumers, the loss of revenue and the damaged reputation of brand owners are on - going global challenges that we all encounter .
in the u. s. , federal law protecting trademarks makes it illegal to knowingly traffic counterfeit goods, which includes the production, sale and transport of such goods. the u. s. department of justice, however, has stated that federal law doesn’t prohibit an individual from buying a counterfeit product for personal use, even if they do so knowingly .
counterfeit electronics products and their market is growing twice as fast as the genuine goods and government has set up proper monitoring mechanism to check them, lok sabha was informed on wednesday .
the abc7 i - team uncovered fakes in your facebook feed and other social media sites. criminals are using them to try to con you into buying counterfeit goods. (wls )
police say they have seized about $ 3. 5 million in counterfeit goods, including jackets with chicken parts in the down and german shepherd hair in the trim on their hoods .
the prevalence of counterfeit goods devalues the brands they imitate and hurts retailers. according to to the international anticounterfeiting coalition, lost profits due to counterfeiting has resulted in the loss of more than 750, 000 jobs in the united states. the total market value of the 2016 seized counterfeit goods, had they been genuine, amounted to $ 1. 4 billion .
use technology to protect your goods: anti - counterfeit technology, such as track and trace and the use of holograms or watermarks on packaging, can help maintain supply chain integrity .
you must not suggest any goods or services you supply are approved by anyone unless it is true .
counterfeits goods which are not genuine and are intended to deceive but which bear trademarks without any authorization .
during the course of the operation, federal law enforcement agents made undercover purchases from online retailers suspected of selling counterfeit goods. in many instances, the goods were shipped directly into the united states from suppliers in other countries using international express mail. if the goods were confirmed as counterfeit or otherwise illegal, seizure orders for the domain names of the websites that sold the goods were obtained from u. s. magistrate judges. individuals attempting to access the websites will now find a banner notifying them that the domain name of that website has been seized by federal authorities .
although some sellers knowingly hawk counterfeit goods, others may be duped themselves. the auction giant ebay, for example, doesn’t allow replicas, counterfeit items, or unauthorized copies to be sold on its site. but that hasn’t prevented such items from showing up there .
depending on the product category, length of channels of distribution, and number of sources for obtaining counterfeit goods, reputable channel members can unknowingly receive counterfeit goods from a variety of suppliers. figure 1 depicts a direct link from the counterfeiter, as well as an indirect route from the counterfeiter via other wholesalers. one additional source of illegal goods (although they are not technically counterfeit goods) comes from foreign manufacturers who have a manufacturing licensing agreement with a u. s. firm. in this
grey counterfeiting
situation, the licensing agreement is violated by the importation of these goods to the u. s. a. presumably, these licensed products are of the same quality as the u. s. firm' s and the injury to the trademark owner is in the form of lost sales (rather than lost goodwill due to inferior products). while most authorized channel members do not knowingly carry counterfeit goods, there is clearly the potential for consumers to unknowingly purchase a counterfeit from a reputable channel member .
the impact of counterfeiting is both tangible and intangible; it affects both the individual firm and society; and injury befalls both the corporation whose goods are counterfeited and the consumer who unknowingly purchases the counterfeit products. tangible impacts include the revenues lost by the trademark owner to the counterfeiting manufacturer. intangible impacts include the loss of goodwill and consumer confidence. these microeconomic effects are magnified when lost revenues are translated into lost jobs and dissatisfaction is translated into negative attitudes towards business in general .
examples of such goods include alcohol and tobacco. illegal tobacco products are cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco or niche tobacco products that have been smuggled, bootlegged or are counterfeit (fake) .
following the seizure of a suspected quantity of counterfeit goods from a city centre trader, an article was published in the chronicle and also featured on tyne tees on the 8 september 2015 .
by 2015, icc expects the value of counterfeit goods globally to exceed $ 1. 7 trillion. that' s over 2% of the world' s total current economic output .
it' s also one of the most frequently counterfeited food products, says martin stutsman, the fda' s consumer safety officer for edible oils .
the impact from counterfeit products is felt by the brand owner, the consumer and the companies that unknowingly use or sell counterfeit products. they are all harmed by the distribution of counterfeit products. substandard drugs that are made from poor quality raw materials, using an improper dosage of the active ingredients, inadequate storage or transportation, or products made from a process that does not follow good manufacturing practices all create dangerous risks for the consumer. certain health organizations found instances of counterfeit drugs that contained harmful ingredients such as boric acid, brick dust, chalk dust, cement powder, talcum powder, floor polish, shoe polish and antifreeze. adverse drug reactions, permanent injury or death can result from the use of counterfeit drugs .
in one case, he testified against two compton gangsters caught selling counterfeit nike shoes .
it' s illegal: counterfeiting is illegal and purchasing counterfeit products supports illegal activity .
chicagoan rob dunkel runs an online anti - counterfeit business that tracks down fakes. his software monitors online sales and identifies potential counterfeit products with a price tracking computer model .
customised protection technologies provide counterfeit protection and ensure traceability and protection against theft and tampering .
customers can dispute their transaction with the bank under credit card regulations regarding counterfeit products .
sangal t, shukla n. generic drug industry in india. the counterfeit spin .
counterfeiting has consequences beyond lost sales of genuine products. in a correspondence with 24 / 7 wall st. , cbp public affairs specialist katrina skinner wrote “theft of intellectual property threatens america’s innovation - based economic vitality, business competitiveness, the livelihood of workers, consumer safety, and national security. trade in counterfeit goods funds criminal enterprises. ”
the respondents were strongly opinionated with regard to the penalties that they felt should be imposed on manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit goods. seventy - five percent of the total sample felt that manufacturers of counterfeit goods should be subject to both fines and jail terms, while 20 percent felt fines alone were enough. respondents were somewhat more lenient with sellers of counterfeit goods. sixty percent felt they should be both fined and jailed, 34 percent said they should be fined only, and 6 percent had no opinion. respondents expressed the most sympathy with consumers purchasing counterfeit products. forty percent had no opinion about how to deal with purchasers or felt that nothing should be done to consumers, while 37 percent felt purchasers should be fined, 16 percent felt they should be jailed, and the remaining 7 percent felt the purchase of counterfeit goods should be legal .
‘consumer guarantees’ under the acl mean products must be safe, match the description given and be of acceptable quality. additionally, it is against the law to create a misleading overall impression among the intended audience about the price, value or quality of goods .
the research was conducted on behalf of markmonitor by independent market research firm vitreous world. the aim was to examine online buying behaviour related to consumer goods, including make - up, toiletries, medicines, vitamins and supplements, purchased outside of supermarket shopping .
counterfeit goods can endanger lives – auto parts that fail, pharmaceuticals that make people sick, toys that harm children, baby formula that provides no nourishment and medical instruments that deliver false readings .
while most consumers unknowingly purchase counterfeit goods, there is evidence in the fashion industry of consumers who intentionally seek out and knowingly purchase counterfeit goods (hansen, 1978). in this situation, it seems unlikely that the consumer would think of himself as a customer of the legitimate manufacturer, and may therefore have a different set of expectations regarding product performance and redress should the product fail. research into this
fraudulent status signaling
may improve our understanding of status' symbols, symbolic consumption, product images, and self - concept .
the international chamber of commerce sees an even bigger problem. when factoring in the counterfeit market within countries, plus the value of pirated digital material, the icc estimates counterfeit goods were worth $ 650 billion in 2008. what' s more, the icc said that the cost of lost tax revenue and additional welfare spending due to counterfeit goods was $ 125 billion in developed countries alone. and 2. 5 million jobs have been lost as a result of fake products .
solving the counterfeit drugs problem is important to ensure that patients do not lose faith in the benefits of pharmaceuticals and become nonadherent with their treatments. the expansion of the internet, and the difficulty in controlling drug suppliers from the internet, have greatly increased consumer purchases of counterfeit drugs. controlling the availability of counterfeit drugs is not easy, but it is necessary, given the tremendous public health issues concerning counterfeit drugs, which can harm or kill people. cooperation is necessary among all the stakeholders involved .
in general terms, commercial counterfeiting can be described as the fraudulent practice of affixing a false trademark to a product. the false trademark then appears superficially indistinguishable from its legitimate counterpart. the purpose of this fraudulent activity is to dupe the consumer into purchasing the counterfeit under the mistaken belief that the product is the genuine article. for the consumer who unknowingly purchases a counterfeit, the result is typically dissatisfaction; for the firm whose goods are counterfeited, loss of revenue and goodwill are possible; for the counterfeiter, profits are reaped with little financial or legal risk and with minimal marketing effort .
if the retailer is in australia and you cannot resolve the matter, lodge a complaint with consumer protection using the form at urltoken (no w’s) .
if it’s from an international retailer you can report the matter via urltoken and to the overseas - based fair trading or consumer protection agency for that country .
a number of web sites quickly report any new information regarding counterfeit products. two good ones for breaking news on recent counterfeit products are urltoken and www. devicelink. com .
both groups of consumers were much less certain about the magnitude of the problems that various industries face with regards to counterfeiting activity. fifty percent of the respondents felt that counterfeiting was most serious in the consumer goods category, 17 percent felt the most serious problem was with industrial goods, while 33 percent did not have any idea of which category was most prone to counterfeiting.
counterfeit consumer goods are goods , often of inferior quality , made or sold under another 's brand name without the brand owner ’s authorization . sellers of such goods may infringe on either the trade mark , patent or copyright of the brand owner by passing off its goods as made by the brand owner . the term knockoff is often used interchangeably with " counterfeit , " although their legal meanings are not identical . a " knockoff " is a colloquial term which describes products that copy or imitate the physical appearance of other products , but which do not copy the brand name or logo of a trademark . they may , or may not , be illegal under trademark laws . such products are considered illegal when they are intended to confuse consumers . and someone can be a counterfeiter even if he does n’t make the products , but knowingly sells them to others . another overlapping term is pirated goods , which generally refers to copying copyrighted products without permission , such as music , movies and software . exact definitions are determined by the laws of various countries . growing over 10,000 % in the last two decades , counterfeit products exist in virtually every area , including food , beverages , clothes , shoes , pharmaceuticals , electronics , auto parts , toys , and currency . the spread of counterfeit goods is worldwide , and in 2008 a study by the international chamber of commerce ( icc ) estimated the global value of all counterfeit goods reached $ 650 billion every year , doubling the estimated annual profit made from the sale of illegal drugs worldwide according to data collected by illicit trade monitor . the same study projected that in 2015 the upper bound of the global value of counterfeit and pirated goods could be $ 1.77 trillion , a number that is roughly equal to the gdp of brazil . counterfeit products make up 5 to 7 % of world trade and have cost an estimated 2.5 million jobs worldwide , with 750,000 jobs lost in the u.s. alone . however , the government accountability office found that many estimated figures were unreliable . 
counterfeit consumer goods are goods, often of inferior quality, made or sold under another's brand name without the brand owner ’s authorization. sellers of such goods may infringe on either the trade mark, patent or copyright of the brand owner by passing off its goods as made by the brand owner. the term knockoff is often used interchangeably with " counterfeit, " although their legal meanings are not identical. a " knockoff " is a colloquial term which describes products that copy or imitate the physical appearance of other products, but which do not copy the brand name or logo of a trademark. they may, or may not, be illegal under trademark laws. such products are considered illegal when they are intended to confuse consumers. and someone can be a counterfeiter even if he does n’t make the products, but knowingly sells them to others. another overlapping term is pirated goods, which generally refers to copying copyrighted products without permission, such as music, movies and software. exact definitions are determined by the laws of various countries. growing over 10,000% in the last two decades, counterfeit products exist in virtually every area, including food, beverages, clothes, shoes, pharmaceuticals, electronics, auto parts, toys, and currency. the spread of counterfeit goods is worldwide, and in 2008 a study by the international chamber of commerce (icc) estimated the global value of all counterfeit goods reached $ 650 billion every year, doubling the estimated annual profit made from the sale of illegal drugs worldwide according to data collected by illicit trade monitor. the same study projected that in 2015 the upper bound of the global value of counterfeit and pirated goods could be $ 1.77 trillion, a number that is roughly equal to the gdp of brazil. counterfeit products make up 5 to 7% of world trade and have cost an estimated 2.5 million jobs worldwide, with 750,000 jobs lost in the u.s. alone. however, the government accountability office found that many estimated figures were unreliable.
counterfeit consumer goods are goods, often of inferior quality, made or sold under another's brand name without the brand owner ’s authorization. sellers of such goods may infringe on either the trade mark, patent or copyright of the brand owner by passing off its goods as made by the brand owner. the term knockoff is often used interchangeably with " counterfeit, " although their legal meanings are not identical. a " knockoff " is a colloquial term which describes products that copy or imitate the physical appearance of other products, but which do not copy the brand name or logo of a trademark. they may, or may not, be illegal under trademark laws. such products are considered illegal when they are intended to confuse consumers. and someone can be a counterfeiter even if he does n’t make the products, but knowingly sells them to others. another overlapping term is pirated goods, which generally refers to copying copyrighted products without permission, such as music, movies and software. exact definitions are determined by the laws of various countries. growing over 10,000% in the last two decades, counterfeit products exist in virtually every area, including food, beverages, clothes, shoes, pharmaceuticals, electronics, auto parts, toys, and currency. the spread of counterfeit goods is worldwide, and in 2008 a study by the international chamber of commerce (icc) estimated the global value of all counterfeit goods reached $ 650 billion every year, doubling the estimated annual profit made from the sale of illegal drugs worldwide according to data collected by illicit trade monitor. the same study projected that in 2015 the upper bound of the global value of counterfeit and pirated goods could be $ 1.77 trillion, a number that is roughly equal to the gdp of brazil. counterfeit products make up 5 to 7% of world trade and have cost an estimated 2.5 million jobs worldwide, with 750,000 jobs lost in the u.s. alone. however, the government accountability office found that many estimated figures were unreliable.