{"id":352487,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/buying-counterfeit-goods-laws-and-resources.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T08:58:00","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T13:58:00","slug":"buying-counterfeit-goods-laws-and-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/buying-counterfeit-goods-laws-and-resources.html","title":{"rendered":"Buying Counterfeit Goods: Laws and Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Buying Counterfeit Goods: Laws and Resources<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Hannah Hilst<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Counterfeit goods are fake products sold under another company’s trademark without permission, often of poor quality. Buying counterfeit items poses legal and safety risks, undermines genuine brands, and supports illegal activities. While purchasing counterfeit goods for personal use isn’t illegal in the U.S., trafficking them is a crime with severe penalties. Consumers can spot counterfeits by examining price, packaging quality, and seller location. Report suspected counterfeit goods to authorities to help combat their spread and protect consumers. If you have suffered injury from counterfeit goods, a consumer law attorney can help you bring legal action.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You’ve probably seen a counterfeit good before. Maybe you even purchased one by accident when you realized that the brand-name product you bought at an incredible price was indeed too good to be true.<\/p>\n

The competition is steep in a digital age when customers can order products around the world. Customers seek cheap prices, and sellers want to maximize profits. Counterfeiting has become a booming industry as some people exploit these conditions.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit products aren’t a win-win scenario. They present serious legal and safety risks along with a frustrating shopping experience. As a consumer, know the warning signs and consequences of buying counterfeit goods.<\/p>\n

What Is a Counterfeit Product?<\/h2>\n

Counterfeit goods are products that someone sells under another\u00a0company’s trademark<\/a>\u00a0without a license, usually with inferior quality. Some people also refer to counterfeits as bootleg or black-market goods.<\/p>\n

A trademark is a company’s official logo or other signature symbols. Once a company registers with the\u00a0U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<\/a>, it can legally prevent other companies from using similar marks that might confuse consumers.<\/p>\n

Companies put trademarks on products so customers will build trust in their brands. You’ll know what to expect from a product when you see the brand’s name or logo. Trademarks can also set broader expectations for\u00a0warranties<\/a>\u00a0and other customer service-related benefits.<\/p>\n

Counterfeit products exploit this brand recognition.\u00a0Consumer protection laws<\/a>\u00a0ban deceptive trade practices like counterfeiting.<\/p>\n

What Isn’t a Counterfeit Good?<\/h2>\n

Counterfeit goods differ from knockoff or dupe products. Knockoffs might remind you of another brand’s design, but they don’t have labels that violate another company’s trademark.<\/p>\n

Many retailers create knockoffs that simulate the same effect of another company’s products. For example, many grocery stores sell generic versions of brand-name products under their own label.<\/p>\n

Counterfeits also differ from pirated goods, which are a different type of\u00a0intellectual property infringement<\/a>\u00a0involving genuine products. For example, a pirated movie is the same one you would otherwise see in a theater, but the method of accessing the movie is illegal.<\/p>\n

Examples of Counterfeit Goods<\/h2>\n

Counterfeit products exist in nearly every industry and can include:<\/p>\n