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The report is derived from BASCAP's Daily Counterfeit & Piracy Intelligence Report statistics, compiled over the first half of 2006.
Counterfeiting and piracy affects consumers, businesses, governments and impacts economies in a negative manner. According to Glen Gieschen, counterfeit intelligence manager, "This activity has major implications upon job creation and sustainability, consumer health, safety and security, and is driving serious criminal activity into this seemingly innocent crime.
"The greatest misconception about counterfeiting is that the impact is negligible; however, the truth is far different. Consumers who are unaware they are purchasing fake products and those who are actively seeking them have consumed adulterated drugs and died, installed fake products in their vehicles which reduce its life or cause bodily injury when they malfunction."
Gieschen continues, "We have documented an endless number of instances where these bogus items result in serious problems, large and small for consumers. Recently, counterfeit airline parts were discovered in Russia which, as a passenger, is a concern. When seizures are made of bootleg music, software, and films, it is becoming a frequent occurrence to discover illegal drugs and weapons. In some cases, phoney items are sold by illegal immigrants to support their families and fund causes in their homelands. When you purchase these items, you have no idea of the type of people you are supporting, where these funds are going and for what purpose."
The report also analyses the use of the Internet in networking and organising the activity of counterfeiters in addition to providing unregulated and competitive advantages which legitimate businesses are unable to use through trade boards, spam, auctions and cyber outlets.
The report's conclusions are based on data obtained from actual counterfeit and piracy activity:
To view the 2006 Mid-Year Global Intellectual Property Counterfeit & Piracy Report, go to www.goldsec.com/PR/06-10-24-2.htm.
To subscribe to the BASCAP Counterfeit & Piracy Intelligence Reports, go to www.bascap.com/news/index.html.