Everyone loves a bargain, but if you are offered a luxury item at a price that seems too good to be true, it is almost certain that you are dealing with counterfeit goods. All manufacturers of luxury and quality goods work hard at nurturing their intellectual property and brands, basing their appeal on the skill and quality of their craftsmen. So when some backstreet operator runs up imitations and sells them in rundown market stalls, the manufacturers are naturally furious as such imitations strike at the heart of their mystique.
Of course, buying a fake handbag or scarf is not a life-threatening act, but using imitation brake pads or medical goods can well have disastrous consequences for all concerned. Many consumers may see a difference between fake luxury fashion items and fake industrial or pharmaceutical goods, but both hit hard at the commercial rights of legitimate manufacturers and retailers. Both types of fake undermine the law and the commercial rights of companies that have spent large amounts of money and time in building their market presence. They deserve the protection of the law.
