Tougher penalties required to deter counterfeiters

IN AN INTERVIEW ON WEDNESDAY, Liu Pingjun, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and former deputy director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said that even if those producing counterfeit goods are caught 9 times out of 10, those not caught that one time will be able to make huge profits, which is why fake goods are so prevalent. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Thursday:

Counterfeit goods violate the intellectual property rights of the brands they claim to "emulate" and undermine efforts to promote domestic brands. Yet despite the existence of laws including the Criminal Law and the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, as well as routine special inspections on manufacturing quality, poor quality counterfeits are still prevalent in some places as they can bring huge illicit gains to those producing them.

Big name brands are often the target of copycats who believe that the profits to be made are worth all the risks. Decent returns and low costs have emboldened many to break the law by producing and distributing fake goods in pursuit of quick money, even at the risk of being held criminally accountable.