Tiffany’s Triumph in Costco Trademark Case

When you think about shopping for engagement rings, Costco Wholesale Corporation probably isn’t the first retailer that comes to mind. However, the warehouse club chain was desperately trying to claim a growing share of the fine jewelry market – by offering “Tiffany” diamond engagement rings. In doing so, Costco has been charged with trademark infringement… Continue reading Tiffany’s Triumph in Costco Trademark Case

Attention Walmart.com Shoppers: Now Offering Counterfeits

In an effort to compete with Amazon, Walmart.com has significantly increased its product selection by offering items from third-party sellers. While third-party offerings provide consumers with more options, online shoppers may want to proceed with caution. Launched in 2009, Walmart’s Marketplace allowed select retailers to list their products on Walmart.com. Recent partnerships have ballooned Walmart.com’s product… Continue reading Attention Walmart.com Shoppers: Now Offering Counterfeits

Outsmarting Counterfeiters

Digital commerce poses both immense opportunities and serious threats to brands, consumers and whole economies. With 4.7 billion online consumers predicted by 2020 , it will become easier than ever for counterfeiters to exploit brands through e-commerce. Rogue websites, online auctions and the darknet provide a global, anonymous and lucrative channel for counterfeiters – one… Continue reading Outsmarting Counterfeiters

Prime Issues: Keeping Counterfeits Off Amazon

Much has changed since Amazon.com opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the world’s largest online retailer offers 500 million products sold by 2 million sellers; many of which are third-party vendors. In fact, 50 percent of units purchased last year were sold by third-party sellers. While many third-party… Continue reading Prime Issues: Keeping Counterfeits Off Amazon

Why Counterfeiters Love the Internet

On a daily basis, billions of people use the internet to buy and sell goods and services. The booming online economy has created an ideal environment for counterfeiters, whose trade has burgeoned. The internet has revolutionized the way counterfeiters operate and remains a highly lucrative and sophisticated criminal environment. Counterfeiters are no longer sequestered to… Continue reading Why Counterfeiters Love the Internet

Why You Should Not Buy a Fake Watch

According to Forbes, 15-30% of Internet searches on watches involve people looking for replicas. But what’s the big deal with buying a knockoff watch anyway? Why you should not buy a fake watch Quality & Reliability Because fake watches are made as cheaply as possible, they generally have very short lifespans. Made with low quality… Continue reading Why You Should Not Buy a Fake Watch

How Culture Influences Counterfeit Luxury Purchases

Curtailing consumers’ desire for fake goods is crucial to winning the war on counterfeiting. Since the counterfeit market is driven by consumers’ desire for authentic luxury goods, researchers have begun to examine what motivates consumers to make luxury purchases, which can offer an understanding of why consumers buy counterfeit goods. From this, marketers can formulate… Continue reading How Culture Influences Counterfeit Luxury Purchases

Counterfeit vs. Knockoff: What’s the Difference?

Although the phrases “counterfeit” and “knockoff” are often used synonymously, they are actually different. So, what’s the difference between counterfeit and knockoff products? The difference between the two boils down to registered trademarks. A knockoff may resemble another product, but does not contain any identical logos or federally registered brand names. In general, knockoffs don’t… Continue reading Counterfeit vs. Knockoff: What’s the Difference?

The Hidden Costs of Counterfeiting

The repercussions of counterfeiting span much farther than the significant economic losses. In an interconnected global system, the hidden costs of counterfeiting pose serious implications that affect innovation, national security and the safety. Consumer Health & Safety Counterfeiting isn’t something confined to designer apparel. The newest commodities for counterfeiters are perhaps the most dangerous of all— ingestibles… Continue reading The Hidden Costs of Counterfeiting

Avoiding Fakes in the Art Market: A Buyer’s Guide

Avoiding Fakes in the Art Market: A Buyer’s Guide For art collectors, there is no fear greater than discovering that a once-prized work is merely a worthless forgery; a nightmare that has become all too common in the art world.  Instances of art forgery now comprise a major portion of the market – with estimates… Continue reading Avoiding Fakes in the Art Market: A Buyer’s Guide