個案總覽

Product counterfeiters hurt more than just corporate bottom lines. They put millions of jobs at risk, not to mention threaten the health and well-being of consumers. And the problem is getting worse. By the end of 2015, the International Chamber of Commerce estimates that the value of counterfeit products will reach US$1.7 trillion, about two per cent of global economic output. In the past, retailers mainly had to deal with the problem of brand theft and counterfeiting in the brick-and-mortar realm, e.g. fake Louis Vuitton bags or Rolex watches. Today, the threat that counterfeiters pose is much broader. The online world is rife with counterfeit products, and perpetrators are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as 3D printing, to manufacture goods and parts. However, firms can take stock of their online brand presence — including their website, social media and mobile components — to identify vulnerabilities. They can prioritize what needs to be done through a scoring system specific to the most important brands and infringements. Finally, they can take the counterfeiters down through a combination of using online platforms’ reporting mechanisms for intellectual property infringements, using search-engine mechanisms to remove links, and directly asking infringers to take down fraudulent content.