Knockoff News 52
A weekly (or thereabouts) collection of news about counterfeits, fakes, knockoffs, replicas, imitations, and the culture of copying in general around the globe:
- Fences make bad neighbors: China, South Korea flood Japan with fakes
- Mass couture: Elaborate ready-to-wear harder to copy
- Private eye: Optometrist tips off police to seller of fakes
- Off with her head: NY knockoff queen sued for third time
- Road rage: UK MP seeks to use pedlar law against fake sellers
- Irish eyes unsmiling: Officials warn against danger of fake goods
- Ghost shift: Tech makes counterfeiting easier than ever
- Luxeplosion: New book condemns counterfeiting of luxury goods
- A fine mess: Store owner, fined 10K, faces new charges for selling fake goods
- Repeat business: UK trader fined after failing to remove fake goods
- Client development: The anti-counterfeiter's toolkit
- More client development: Bringing counterfeiters to justice
- Dial F for fake: UK officials ask public to rat out counterfeit sellers
- "Not 'just' pocketbooks": Lawyer notes counterfeit fight goes beyond fashion
- Blame Canada: Northern neighbors three times more likely to buy fakes
- Shocked, shocked: Shoe buyer says she didn't know store sold fakes
- The Age of Conformity: Uganda enacts new import inspection regime
- Rabbit tale: Merchant busted for selling fake Playboy goods
- Turtles all the way: Counterfeit courier gives police fake name
- Curiouser and curiouser: Police officer, trade official charged with plotting to steal seized fakes
- Enough already: U.S. losing patience with China
- Behind the Yellow Door: Van Cleef & Arpels' files new copyright, trade dress case
- Red dawn: H&M wins trademark case in Moscow
- Picture this: China's fake brands (HT: IP Dragon)
And for certain exotic purchases, the Economist reports that DNA testing can now be used to separate real from fake. For some, this must be quite a relief.
Frankly, though, we prefer our authenticated aphrodisiacs in more familiar form, say gemstones or precious metals -- and with all due respect to Dame Vivienne, perhaps in more discreet shapes as well.
