Counterfeit goods will remain a significant problem for clothing and footwear manufacturers for the foreseeable future and by 2014 is expected to have doubled from recent years.

Anyone who has visited countries such as Thailand, Indonesia or Hong Kong will remember the endless supply of shops selling 'cheap' goods with household brand names such as ADIDAS®, Nike® and Billabong® to name a few. These goods are produced en masse with the brand name and designs used illegally to sell to market.

Types of Counterfeit Goods

Counterfeit goods are limitless. We have already covered counterfeit drugs in another section of this site; however counterfeit goods typically include clothing and footwear, electronics and any other high value product that can be replicated at low cost and resold with perceived value to the end user.

Is it Illegal to Purchase Counterfeit Goods?

It is not illegal to buy counterfeit goods in many countries (France and Italy excluded). However, it is illegal to manufacture counterfeit items as it usually breaches intellectual property rights, patents, trademarks and other copyright laws around the world.

Copies Versus Fakes

The fashion industry describes two kinds of counterfeit goods - fakes and copies.

Copies are simply a rip-off of the brand and design often using inferior materials and second-rate production (incorrect designs, spelling errors, faulty product).

Fakes are harder to spot, except that they are not normally sold in conventional retail and are still extremely cheap. Fakes are a higher quality product, often made in the same factory that makes the original by an organised (external) shift of workers.

Internet Fraud Watchdog

Internet Fraud Watchdog can help you identify and reduce the online risk to your brand. Our range of services will provide you with the assistance you need to capture these criminals online as well as on the ground. Contact IFW today or ask your legal team to call us to see how we can help your business.