Experts: Counterfeiting foreign brands is a stealth fraud

The anti-counterfeiting of Italian government agencies in China opened a mystery to many “pseudo Italian brands”. A recent interview with reporters found that not only Italy but also France, the United Kingdom, Germany, etc. have been found. Especially in the mid to high-end market, the presence of local brands in shopping malls has long gone, and the eyes full of foreign names have become a universal reality.

A rare pure brand in the shopping mall at Beijing Cuiwei Building, the reporter found the “Ster Luna” in the list of counterfeits on the Italian Foreign Trade Commission. The sales staff still eloquently stated that this is a brand from Italy, made of leather imported from Italy and made in the country.

The reporter found that the brand's shoes are priced at more than 1,000 yuan, and there are few discounts. The salesperson said that he valued his money. "Look at the texture of this leather, there are styles, and domestic brands can't do it at all."

The reporter wanted to find a domestic brand of shoes for comparison, even in a circle did not find a few domestic shoes. In the entire area where shoes and bags are sold, all eyes are “foreign brands”: Patrcia, tigrisso in Spain, le saunda in Italy, Spain, and Romania...

In Beijing Lufthansa Friendship Mall Jinyuan, the reporter counted the footwear brands on the second floor. Of the total of 27 shoe stores, except for the two brands that cannot know the brand name, of the 25 footwear brands that have been registered in the known brands, only “took map card” is a brand of China Guangdong itself (also sells at the same time) Some Italian Italian-made Italian brands), the remaining 24 footwear brands are from abroad. Among the 24 overseas brands, there are 11 Italian brands, 3 German brands, 2 Spanish brands, 2 French brands, 2 American brands, 2 British brands, 1 Danish brand and 1 Hong Kong brand. Among the 24 "pure foreign brands", American brands Jeep are all made in China, nine overseas brands are made in China, some are made in foreign countries, and the remaining 14 foreign brands are branded and manufactured in foreign countries.

Among them, 6 Italian brands and 2 Spanish brands are all made in the home country of the brand. The price of shoes is almost four digits, it is difficult to find a few hundred dollars a pair of shoes.

The foreign brand China made men's clothing that is also located on the second floor of Beijing's Yansha Friendship Shopping Centre Jinyuan Store, and could hardly find a brand whose name was not “Western style”. Among brands registered, Italy is the largest, there are also British, French and German brands, and there are many local brands that have foreign names. The general price of these men's clothing is thousands or even tens of thousands.

Unlike footwear, most of the "European brand" men's wear products originate in China's mainland Shanghai, Guangdong and other places, only Germany's Maiya trousers are made in Romania. Many high-priced men's wear, salespersons have described the use of imported fabrics.

The salesman of British men's clothing brand “EDAH ADH” told reporters that the mall is selling high-end clothing, and now the gap between the rich and the poor in society is high, and the rich have the demand for high-quality clothing, so the one made using imported high-quality fabrics It is not surprising that the suit is priced at 10,000 yuan.

In another store's men's clothing store, several brands of salespersons introduced that their brands are registered in Italy, France, etc. However, the company’s nationality and manufacturers are in China. The so-called “foreign brands” are actually only Chinese companies. Registered abroad. In order to improve the design level, some local brands will invite designers to design styles in France, Italy and other places. In the men's clothing store, "international brands," "imported fabrics," and "design of European designers" are very popular and have become a selling point for various brands.

The counterfeit foreign brand is an invisible fraud. Chen Jianmin, an associate professor at the Law School of Tsinghua University, believes that there are three stages in the imitation of foreign brands in China. The first phase is simple direct counterfeiting, such as direct LV counterfeiting; the second phase is to change a letter in a foreign brand, visually misleading consumers. "The third stage was terrible. It was to go abroad to register a trademark. However, this trademark was not used abroad, and it was later applied for domestic use. Therefore, this so-called international trademark product was actually not even out of the country. , Made in China, produced in China, sold in China."

Chen Jianmin said that it is very easy to apply for registration of a trademark in foreign countries. It takes only one or two thousand yuan. However, because this trademark is not used at all abroad, foreigners rarely go to understand that Chinese consumers are generally not likely to go abroad to check, so that the name of foreign brands spread everywhere, and even sell high prices. Because consumers do not understand the concept of trademarks, origin, etc., it is easy to have the misconception that these products are foreign brands authorized by “international brands, domestic production”, and the so-called international brand licensing is actually “self-to themselves”. Authorization.

Associate Professor Chen Jianmin believes that this deception is very subtle, because most consumers do not have the ability to distinguish between trademarks and origins. Although this behavior does not constitute fraud, it can constitute a "major misunderstanding." Consumers may not be able to claim punitive damages after they are discovered, but they may be required to rescind the sale contract.