TRADEMARK INFORMATION NETWORK
BREAKING NEWS

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MARK TRADEMAN, TMIN NEWS ANCHOR:
Who gets harmed by imitation handbags?  Bootleg DVDs? Counterfeit pharmaceuticals? We all do. And the United States Patent and Trademark Office wants your help to stop fakes.

You might not realize it, but when you buy a pair of knock-off sunglasses, you're actually helping fuel a global criminal enterprise that threatens the health and safety of Americans. It costs the U.S. economy over 200 billion dollars each year and contributes to unemployment and lost revenue.

And these criminals don't just make fake handbags, imitation clothing, and bootleg DVDs. They also produce more dangerous products, like defective software, batteries, and medicine.

That makes counterfeiting bad for people, bad for business, and bad for our future.

How is it bad for people? Well, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, for example, are incredibly dangerous. These fake drugs use authentic brand names, but the medicine might be contaminated or contain too much or too little of the necessary active ingredients. As such, the pharmaceuticals are either toxic or ineffective, causing treatment failure, serious bodily injury, and even death.

Also dangerous? Counterfeit electrical products. Improperly manufactured circuit breakers, power bars, extension cords, and batteries can cause electrocutions, fires, and explosions, harming both people and property. As such, counterfeit goods are bad for people.

Counterfeit products are also bad for business. The primary industries that grow the American economy invest heavily in research and development. To protect these new inventions, brands, and ways of manufacturing, legitimate companies file for patent, trademark, and copyright protection.

Counterfeiters ignore these protections. They steal technical data or pass off cheaply-made products as the real thing. Consequently, counterfeiters harm American businesses. They damage reputations when consumers buy counterfeit products and mistakenly attribute poor quality to the company whose product was counterfeited. They create unfair competition when lesser quality goods vie in the marketplace with legitimate ones. They cause lost revenue, leading to American job losses. Thus, counterfeit goods are bad for business.

Counterfeiting is also bad for our future. Specifically, when you purchase counterfeit goods, you're contributing to a growing web of illegal activity. Criminal investigations by law enforcement officials discovered that the production and trade of counterfeit goods is controlled by criminal organizations. The money from the sale of these goods directly supports organized crime and terrorism, strengthening them both now and in the years to come. As such, counterfeit goods are bad for our future.

How can you stay safe from fakes? Here are 10 easy steps.

Number one. Scrutinize labels, packaging, and contents. Check for expired "use by" dates, broken or missing safety seals, missing warranty information, and unusual packaging.

Number two. Seek authorized retailers. Visit a manufacturer's website to find a list and only purchase from a trusted source.

Number three. Watch for missing sales tax charges. If required sales tax is missing, double check with the seller about the purchase price and the source of the products.

Number four. Insist on secure transactions. Counterfeiters are unlikely to handle your data safely. For example, when purchasing online, limit financial transactions to websites that begin with "https." The "S" stands for "secure." Also look for the lock icon.

Number five. Seek quality assurance. When purchasing used items, ask about the seller's quality assurance process. Reputable resellers typically provide comprehensive inspection and authentication of the items offered for sale.

Number six. Report spam and faulty products. You can play an important role in keeping the market free of fakes by notifying the brand owner of suspicious products and marketing. You can report unsafe products to the Consumer Products Safety Commission by visiting www.cpsc.gov.

Number seven. Be vigilant when buying abroad. Counterfeit and pirated products are more prevalent in certain countries than they are in the United States. Educate yourself about potential counterfeit products by reading the travel advisories published on the U.S. Department of State website: travel.state.gov.

Number eight. Teach your kids about counterfeits. Fakes are often unsafe. Protect your children by teaching them to identify counterfeit goods and how to shop at legal local and online stores.

Number nine. Warn friends and family of illegitimate products and sources. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to spread information about dangerous and defective products and those that sell them, as well as find reliable and safe alternatives.

Number ten. Trust your instincts. Beware of a purchase that is "too good to be true." If something doesn't feel right, use your common sense and walk away.

Following these tips will help keep your family safe, ensure a robust U.S. economy, and protect future generations.

Remember, when you purchase counterfeit goods, you not only risk the health of you and your family, you also risk irreparable harm to American brands and American jobs. That's bad for everyone.

So, instead, let's join together and put an end to pirated products. For more information about counterfeit goods and how to avoid them, visit www.stopfakes.gov.

I'm Mark Trademan, Trademark Information Network.

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