Counterfeit Bag Penalties
The Unknown World Of Knock Offs
The business of designer fashion bags is a lucrative investment, often times the driving force behind the success of most large fashion houses around the world. As women of all ages continue to build their treasured collection of Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada bags, such brands can rest assured on the loyalty of their valued customer to keep the line afloat. However, with the ever rising number of counterfeiters breaking into the market, bottom lines fall into jeopardy and designers worldwide with legal assistance at their side, are combating this both loathed and loved market.
Criminal Inspirations
Because fashion and accessory design is a creative process that is often times subjective and difficult to accredit to one individual, people are able to find loopholes that allow them to take an idea. Trademark and trade-dress laws are enforced to provide some protection for the original designer.
The counterfeiter, however, does not simply borrow inspiration from another designer’s product, but actually steals and reproduces the brand and its iconic logo. This logo identifies the piece as an authentic product from a high-end manufacturer, which is where the crime at hand comes into play.
Thousands of dollars may be spent by an unsuspecting customer for an illegally produced product that does not meet the quality standards present in the original piece. These operations pop up in destinations such as Thailand, New York and other international and domestic locales.
Enforcements and Penalties In The USA
Producing, selling and buying counterfeit bags are serious crimes with real consequences. Countless vendors, online retail websites and store owners have been charged and convicted of violating the trademark law and sentenced to prison time and charged thousands of dollars in fines.
A sentence of a few months or up to several years in prison may be given depending on the volume of counterfeits found and sold on the premises. A local vendor or business owner for example, may have a few dozen counterfeit bags at the location, and may be sentenced to 18 months in prison. In larger cases, where the counterfeiter is directly engaged in the international trafficking of knock-off goods, 10 years in prison and charged a maximum fine of 2 million dollars can be and has been given.
Counterfeit laws not only enforce penalties against individuals who have knowingly stolen the design of another company, but also combat against terrorist organizations that are believed to be linked to and supported by the profits from its sale. The business of knock-offs is such a serious crime that designers and companies can hire a Counterfeit Handbag lawyer to handle their claim and help enforce the laws that are set to protect them.
Sources:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_499590.html
http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/counterfeit-handbag-lawyers.html
http://faqs.counterfeitchic.com/
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