Bogus goods are sold around the world, inexpensive knock offs made to look like trusted brand name items. But some anti-piracy activists, also as the Department of Homeland Security, are starting to get tougher with those who traffic in the fake items. However, some of these crusaders also want to focus on the consumers who knowingly purchase phony goods. Soon, those who do so could face fees and maybe even jail time.
A ton of cash in the sector
Knock-off counterfeit merchandise, like fake Prada shoes, Gucci bags and Rolex watches, routinely flood flea markets and bargain outlets across the nation. In recent years, so-called rogue websites have popped up, and they have been ballooning the unlawful sector into one that, according to Daily Finance, rakes in $650 billion a year globally.
Fight against it
The online websites are not easy to trace and pop up all over the place. Every time one is closed down, another pops up. Kristina Montanaro of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition explained that attempting to stop the online websites is just like playing "Whac-a-Mole" as the online websites disappear and show up over and over. They look just like the real deal too.
Montanaro gave a seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement." The seminar explained that credit card issuers and processors are working to stop the online websites. They stop the sites from running charge cards when one is detected. Montanaro also discusses different ways that are getting used to track the counterfeiters down.
Watch out flea markets
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise involves 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.
Public awareness
In an effort to educate customers to the seriousness of intentionally purchasing inexpensive brand-name clones, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition has launched a site 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 explained that getting from the online websites could be dangerous. She said:
"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, purchasing counterfeit merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that occur in the United States 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 fines 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 U.S. will most likely pass similar laws if the New York City law passes soon.
A ton of cash in the sector
Knock-off counterfeit merchandise, like fake Prada shoes, Gucci bags and Rolex watches, routinely flood flea markets and bargain outlets across the nation. In recent years, so-called rogue websites have popped up, and they have been ballooning the unlawful sector into one that, according to Daily Finance, rakes in $650 billion a year globally.
Fight against it
The online websites are not easy to trace and pop up all over the place. Every time one is closed down, another pops up. Kristina Montanaro of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition explained that attempting to stop the online websites is just like playing "Whac-a-Mole" as the online websites disappear and show up over and over. They look just like the real deal too.
Montanaro gave a seminar called "Beyond Whac-a-Mole: New Initiatives in Intellectual Property Enforcement." The seminar explained that credit card issuers and processors are working to stop the online websites. They stop the sites from running charge cards when one is detected. Montanaro also discusses different ways that are getting used to track the counterfeiters down.
Watch out flea markets
About 70 percent of brand-name merchandise involves 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.
Public awareness
In an effort to educate customers to the seriousness of intentionally purchasing inexpensive brand-name clones, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition has launched a site 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 explained that getting from the online websites could be dangerous. She said:
"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, purchasing counterfeit merchandise is a punishable crime. A few would like to see that occur in the United States 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 fines 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 U.S. will most likely pass similar laws if the New York City law passes soon.
About the Author:
How many times have you needed more information on how to get a payday loan, and resorted to an online search on "instant online payday loans?" Your search is over, all of the facts you need is at http://MatchFinancial.com!
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire