Why is counterfeiting illegal

Counterfeiting is big business. What types of goods can be counterfeited? Why should you care about counterfeit products?

It Could Cost You: Purchasing from counterfeit websites puts you at risk for identity theft and credit card fraud when you provide a counterfeit merchant with your information.

Downloading or streaming from illegal websites could put you at risk for malware — which can steal your personal or credit card information. It Supports Child Labor: Counterfeiters do not pay their employees fair wages or benefits, have poor working conditions, and often use forced or child labor.

It Supports Organized Crime: The profits from counterfeiting sales have been linked to funding organized crime, drug trafficking, and even terrorist activity. It Hurts Legitimate Companies, Especially Small Business: Legitimate manufacturers devote significant resources to researching and developing products and building a reputation for quality among consumers. The lost sales and profits that result from this unfair competition translate directly into lower wages and lost jobs, as well as higher prices for consumers.

How can you avoid purchasing fakes or knockoffs? What to do next For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit. What to do next For queries about your identity check, email nida nidirect.

What to do next For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani accessni. What to do next For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

What to do next If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section. They often contain poisonous chemicals that can cause allergic reactions, such as burning and swelling of the skin.

Some people will try to sell you fake clothing, such as replica football kits and designer gear at low prices. There is no comeback with the seller if any of this is the case. You may think you are getting branded make up at much less than the usual price but fake products can contain a cocktail of potentially harmful ingredients.

These can cause severe allergic reactions and possible long-term harm to skin, eyes and hair. Very cheap car parts may be fake and may not meet safety standards. Laundered fuel such as red diesel can cause serious damage to the engine of your vehicle. The dumping of toxic waste can also be hazardous to the environment. Counterfeit toys that have not been manufactured properly can fall apart easily and cause an injury or choking risk to young children.

They pose a greater health risk than ordinary cigarettes as they can contain higher levels of toxic ingredients such as tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, lead and arsenic. As production is not monitored, these cigarettes could contain anything. The items are likely to be made from cheap metals. The cheaper metals can discolour and break easily. What can we do? Related news and speeches. Respecting your privacy We use necessary cookies to make our site work.

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The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed. It does not store any personal data. This cookie expires when you close your browser. Audience measurement audience. Duty Free Apparel, Ltd. The remedies for trademark counterfeiting under the Lanham Act are much harsher than for traditional trademark infringement. Unless a court finds some mitigating circumstances , intentionally using a counterfeit mark and related behavior may lead to an award of three times the profits or damages whichever is greater , plus reasonable attorney's fees.

The counterfeiter must have duplicated the trademark on the kind of goods or services for which the trademark was federally registered. That means that, for example, it's not counterfeiting to put the Gucci mark on automobile seat covers, as these are not goods for which Gucci has a registered trademark. A mere offer to sell counterfeit products can also trigger counterfeiting liability. For example, an individual offered to sell counterfeit jeans and provided a sample to an undercover police officer.

Proof of actual production or sale of the jeans wasn't necessary to prove counterfeiting. Similarly, an Internet Service Provider ISP that hosted several websites selling fake Louis Vuitton merchandise could be liable for contributory infringement.

The district court likened the ISP in this case to a proprietor of the flea market found liable for contributory infringement. Louis Vuitton Malletier v. Akanoc Solutions , F. If you continue to sell without either fighting the letter or otherwise responding, the lawyer will most likely pursue you.

Converting your business to an LLC or corporation can establish limited liability and will shield you from personal liability in some instances, meaning that the lawyers can only go after your business assets.

But your liability is likely to be tied to your status at the time of the infringement. So, if you were a sole proprietor when you got a cease-and-desist letter, then you're probably going to be treated that way personally liable in court, even if you later convert to an LLC or a corporation.

If you get a cease-and-desist letter, you need to determine whether the lawyers are right—that is, whether whatever you sell infringes. If yes, you should abandon the infringing items.

If you're not infringing, you should consider whether you want to fight or move on. If you fight, you may be able to have some luck fighting takedown notices, but keep in mind that if you're dragged into court, you'll be hit hard in your bankroll, and the only guaranteed winners will be the lawyers.

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