Handbook Of Research On Counterfeiting And Illicit Trade

This unique Handbook provides multiple perspectives on the growth of illicit trade, primarily exploring counterfeits and internet piracy. It includes expert opinion on a wide range of topics including the evaluation of key global enforcement issues, government and private-sector agency initiatives to stifle illicit trade, and the evolution of piracy on the internet. The authors also assess the efficacy of anti-counterfeiting strategies such as targeted consumer campaigns, working with intermediaries in the supply chain, authentication technology, and online brand protection.

This book aims to identify, analyze, and systematize the available research on counterfeiting and piracy published over a thirty-five year time span (1980–2015) in order to highlight the main trends in the illicit trade literature, propose suggestions for managers battling against illicit trade, and provide a starting point for future research. Counterfeiting and piracy, i.e., the violation of intellectual property rights (IPRs), including trademarks, copyright, and patents, have been investigated across a multitude of fields, from ethics to marketing, from law to business, from criminology to psychology. While the number of contributions has been substantial, research on both demand and supply has been fragmented and has at times yielded contradictory results. In addition, the lack of an extensive, interdisciplinary, and up-to-date literature review has made it hard to fully understand what aspects of the phenomenon need further clarification in order to stem consumer demand and provide meaningful suggestions to companies combatting illicit trade daily. A systematization of the existing literature is absolutely paramount and this need is fully met by this book.

The book constitutes a unique combination of in-depth insights into the counterfeit market, best-practice strategies, novel management tools, and product protection technologies. It provides both the insights required to develop effective brand and product protection strategies, and the insights that are required to effectively respond to counterfeit trade. Key benefits are the unbiased analysis of the counterfeit market, the strong focus on assisting practitioners to deal with the challenge, and the high standard of research that supports the presented findings.

The expansion of world trade has brought with it an explosive growth in counterfeit merchandise. Estimates put the world total for counterfeit products at about one half trillion dollars annually, although it is impossible to accurately determine the true size of the counterfeit market. What is known is that this illicit trade has infected nearly every industry from pharmaceuticals to aircraft parts. Software and music piracy are easy targets widely reported in the media. In 2007, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) estimated that 38% of personal computer software installed worldwide was illegal and the losses to the software industry were $48 billion worldwide. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported a 58% increase in the seizures of counterfeit CDs. Overall, a wide range of industries agree that there is a severe problem with the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) throughout the world, yet there have been virtually no attempts to describe all aspects of the problem. This work aims to give the most complete description of various characteristics of the IPR environment in a global context. We believe a holistic understanding of the problem must include consumer complicity to purchase counterfeit products, tactics of the counterfeiters (pirates) as well as actions (or inaction) by home and host governments, and the role of international organizations and industry alliances. This book establishes the full environmental aspects of piracy, describes successful anti-counterfeiting actions and then prescribes measures IPR owners should take to protect their intellectual property.

Based on interviews with victims, investigators, and the people who sell counterfeits, "Knockoff" reveals the link between what is perceived as "innocent fakes" and organized crime. This disturbing book will make readers squirm in their seats if they've ever purchased counterfeit goods.

This study examines the value, scope and trends of trade in counterfeit and pirated goods. First, it presents the overall scale of this trade and discusses which parts of the economy are particularly at risk. Next, it looks at the main economies of origin of fakes in global trade. Finally, it ...

This report assesses the magnitude, flows and drivers of illicit trade and the illegal economy including: narcotics, human trafficking, wildlife, sports betting, counterfeit medicines, alcohol and tobacco. The negative socio-economic impacts that these markets have in consumer countries are as worrisome as the goverance gaps that are exploited in source countries. This report examines each illicit sector in terms of the geographic sources, destinations and key trade routes, the current trend of infiltration by organized crime networks, and good practices or future policy solutions with which to combat illicit trade within the various sectors.

Counterfeit and pirated products come from many economies, with China appearing as the single largest producing market. These illegal products are frequently found in a range of industries, from luxury items (e.g. fashion apparel or deluxe watches), via intermediary products (such as machines, spare parts or chemicals) to consumer goods that have an impact on personal health and safety (such as pharmaceuticals, food and drink, medical equipment, or toys). This report assess the quantitative value, scope and trends of this illegal trade.