Recession could prompt increase in counterfeit goods sales

Sales of counterfeit goods could increase as the recession continues‚ the Alliance Against IP Theft has warned.

As the recession continues, sales of counterfeit goods could increase, according to the director-general of the Alliance Against IP Theft.

Susie Winter said this is likely to be caused by consumers cutting back and looking for cheaper alternatives to save money.

She claimed the issue is causing concern among a number of industry and enforcement bodies involved in tackling counterfeiting.

Indeed, they are worried that the temptation to buy fake versions of branded goods may prove too tempting for some consumers.

"This is a cause of great concern given the potential harm these goods cause, both in terms of consumers being financially ripped off and their potentially dangerous nature," she remarked.

Ms Winter's comments follow the publication of a press release from the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), which highlighted similar concerns.

The body's intellectual property lead officer Bryan Lewin called for better consumer education to make people more aware of the consequences of piracy and counterfeit goods.

According to the TSI, an estimated £30 million worth of counterfeit electrical products arrive in the UK every year.

Ms Winter pointed out that people often buy fake goods, particularly cosmetic and personal care products, without realising it.

"I think there's a bit of awareness with branded T-shirts, things like that, that they are fake. But I don't think people think products such as soap and shampoos are fake," she explained.

She therefore urged consumers to check the packaging of the products they buy, looking for manufacturers' holograms and spelling mistakes, which may indicate that a product is fake.