Bogus goods are sold all over the world, affordable counterfeits made to look like trusted brand name items. But a few anti-piracy activists, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, are starting to get harder with those who traffic in the fake items. However, a few of these crusaders also want to focus on the customers who knowingly buy fake goods. Soon, those who do so could face fines and maybe even prison time.
A $650 billion sector
It is illegal to sell knock-off phony merchandise, and the sector has grown to be a $650 billion a year sector, according to Daily Finance. A lot of rogue websites are appearing that sell face Rolex, Gucci and Prada.
Fighting 'Whac-a-Mole'
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these 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 credit cards. This is done through charge card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Working with Homeland Security
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise includes knock-offs at flea markets, according to the U.S. 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.
Let the open public know
In an effort to educate customers to the seriousness of knowingly purchasing cheap brand-name clones, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition has launched a website called DesignsFauxReal.com. The tongue-in-cheek site looks like a knock-off rogue site, but couples its images of alluring merchandise with slogans like, "The timeless gift of credit card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase."
Montanaro said that customers purchasing from these sites are taking a great personal risk:
"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."
Keep away from legal issues
But other anti-piracy crusaders want to take it even further. In Italy and France, getting phony merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that occur in the U.S. as well. 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.
According to Chin:
"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."
If the New York City bill passes into law, it can only be a matter of time before other cities draft similar bills.
A $650 billion sector
It is illegal to sell knock-off phony merchandise, and the sector has grown to be a $650 billion a year sector, according to Daily Finance. A lot of rogue websites are appearing that sell face Rolex, Gucci and Prada.
Fighting 'Whac-a-Mole'
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition's Kristina Montanaro explained that stopping these 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 credit cards. This is done through charge card issuers and processors, according to Montanaro in her seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement.
Working with Homeland Security
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise includes knock-offs at flea markets, according to the U.S. 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.
Let the open public know
In an effort to educate customers to the seriousness of knowingly purchasing cheap brand-name clones, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition has launched a website called DesignsFauxReal.com. The tongue-in-cheek site looks like a knock-off rogue site, but couples its images of alluring merchandise with slogans like, "The timeless gift of credit card fraud," and "Free identity theft with every purchase."
Montanaro said that customers purchasing from these sites are taking a great personal risk:
"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."
Keep away from legal issues
But other anti-piracy crusaders want to take it even further. In Italy and France, getting phony merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that occur in the U.S. as well. 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.
According to Chin:
"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."
If the New York City bill passes into law, it can only be a matter of time before other cities draft similar bills.
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