Counterfeit goods are sold all over the world, affordable counterfeits made to look like trusted brand name goods. But a few anti-piracy activists, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, are beginning to get harder with those who traffic in the bogus goods. However, some of these crusaders also want to focus on the customers who knowingly buy phony items. In the near future, those who do so could face fees and maybe even prison time.
Industry makes a lot of cash
Not only are there flea markets all across the country that sell knock-off phony merchandise, but rogue websites have begun to appear in recent years. The $650 billion a year industry has grown quite a bit, according to Daily Finance. You can get Prada, Gucci and Rolex virtually anywhere now in a fake form.
Battle against it
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these online websites is like playing "Whac-a-Mole" because every time one is found, it disappears and appears as something else. They are extremely difficult to trace and they look like they are the real thing.
Montanaro explained that there are many ways people are attempting to stop the counterfeiters from working, including blocking them from running charge cards. This is done through charge card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: Brand new Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Working with Homeland Security
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise involves knock-offs at flea markets, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security. The department has been going to flea markets recently to bust people for selling the knock-off goods. Millions in merchandise has been taken through a variety of raids.
How about the general public
A brand new site named DesignsFauxReal.com is meant to show how significant it could be to buy fake stuff with brand names on it. The site looks like a rogue site but really has slogans such as "The timeless gift of charge card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase," on it. The website was launched by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition to show the dangers of it.
A massive risk is being taken when a consumer buys from the websites, according to Montanaro:
"A lot of people don't realize, you're handing your card information over to hardened criminals, so you're at the risk of identity theft."
Unlawful act
But other anti-piracy crusaders want to take it even further. In Italy and France, getting counterfeit merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that happen in the U.S. also. New York City Councilwoman Margaret Chin has proposed legislation in her city to make the purchase of fake brand items a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fees of up to $1,000 or up to a year in jail.
Chin said:
"The bottom line is counterfeiters have to sell to do their job, and we need a law in place that punishes buyers for supporting this illegal trade."
Other cities in the United States will most likely pass similar laws if the New York City law passes soon.
Industry makes a lot of cash
Not only are there flea markets all across the country that sell knock-off phony merchandise, but rogue websites have begun to appear in recent years. The $650 billion a year industry has grown quite a bit, according to Daily Finance. You can get Prada, Gucci and Rolex virtually anywhere now in a fake form.
Battle against it
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these online websites is like playing "Whac-a-Mole" because every time one is found, it disappears and appears as something else. They are extremely difficult to trace and they look like they are the real thing.
Montanaro explained that there are many ways people are attempting to stop the counterfeiters from working, including blocking them from running charge cards. This is done through charge card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: Brand new Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Working with Homeland Security
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise involves knock-offs at flea markets, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security. The department has been going to flea markets recently to bust people for selling the knock-off goods. Millions in merchandise has been taken through a variety of raids.
How about the general public
A brand new site named DesignsFauxReal.com is meant to show how significant it could be to buy fake stuff with brand names on it. The site looks like a rogue site but really has slogans such as "The timeless gift of charge card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase," on it. The website was launched by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition to show the dangers of it.
A massive risk is being taken when a consumer buys from the websites, according to Montanaro:
"A lot of people don't realize, you're handing your card information over to hardened criminals, so you're at the risk of identity theft."
Unlawful act
But other anti-piracy crusaders want to take it even further. In Italy and France, getting counterfeit merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that happen in the U.S. also. New York City Councilwoman Margaret Chin has proposed legislation in her city to make the purchase of fake brand items a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fees of up to $1,000 or up to a year in jail.
Chin said:
"The bottom line is counterfeiters have to sell to do their job, and we need a law in place that punishes buyers for supporting this illegal trade."
Other cities in the United States will most likely pass similar laws if the New York City law passes soon.
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