Knockoff News 77
A weekly (or thereabouts) collection of news about counterfeits, fakes, knockoffs, replicas, imitations, and the culture of copying in general around the globe:
- Bad samaritans: US Customs gives 10,000 pairs of fake shoes to global charity
- In his shoes: Barefoot basketball coach inspires donations (Thanks to Kyle Siskey for the tip!)
- Devil in the details: Counterfeit goods an answer to prayer
- Not again: Trelise Cooper sued by organic farm over designer mark
- Kids today: Fair trade youth movement chooses higher prices over poor working conditions
- Minding the Gap: Pretoria high court gives Gap leave to appeal in trademark case
- Bootleg Baedecker: EU publishes list of Customs IP infringement contacts
- No joke: Polish Pro-Marka website features gallery of counterfeits
- Mathemagic: Patriots file to trademark 19-0
- All's Vanity Fair? TTAB rules against Vanity Insanity, favors famous mark
- Dragon's roar: Does China's copyright law have a sense of humor?
- Industrial revolution: Manufacturing economy leaves China with little desire to protect IP
- Out of Africa: Nigerian op-ed condemns Chinese fake trade
- Everybody's faking it in Shanghai
- Wall fall down: EU, China will create anti-counterfeiting information network
- Signature design: Sports memorabilia store sold fake autographs, rugby caps
- Refresh: Tiffany verdict might change eBay
- Ivory tower: Professors oppose designers seeking protection for designs
- Czech list: USTR places Czech Republic on watch list
- Sandstorm: Dubai destroys 300 tons of counterfeit goods
- Turnabout is fair trade: UAE Customs calls on private companies to ID fakes
- Happy anniversary: Philippine Customs celebrates fake seizures, founding
- Tech treat: Eyealike anti-copyright infringement tool
- ACTA up: Australia agrees to begin negotiations toward new anti-counterfeiting treaty
- Rag tag: Dirt bike mag disses Chanel's "neo-Dutch knockoff" boutique city cruiser
- Penalty box: NHL warns against All-Star Game fakes
- Virtual world, rogue state?
- Fake report card: The latest from Kroll
- The matrix: Fashion and the crisis of the real
- Police report:
And finally, just how many of the customers slipping into the "secret," counterfeit-stuffed cubbyholes off New York's Canal Street are actually reporters? If the number of feature articles built around such trips is any indication, quite a few. Truth be told, Counterfeit Chic may have been asked to accompany one, or two, or three...
But the popular press junket may be history, thanks to a too-acquisitive, uncritical, and unapologetic piece from the Miami Herald:
Even the ostensibly cautionary sidebar concludes by noting that "casual buyers are unlikely to be busted" -- before offering shopping tips in the form of "homework" for future counterfeit customers.
Readers, including the IP manager for Coach, excoriated the paper for promoting illegal activity, leading its ombudman to offer a tepid semi-apology and a promise not to buy any more fakes himself. No word on whether the "journalistic porn" actually increased circulation. Or whether the paper reimbursed the reporter's $215 outlay.
Thanks to Kate Lee for the tip!
