Buyer beware: NYC councillor seeks stiff penalties for fake goods purchasers

In the USA, New York councilwoman Margaret Chin has introduced legislation which could make it illegal to knowingly purchase counterfeit goods.

Focused mainly on purchasers of knock-off merchandise such as clothing, designer accessories and cosmetics, the bill would impose sentences of up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The law would aonly apply where there has been clear copying of trademark, so lookalike products without trademark infringement would be exempt. The draft legislation can be viewed here (courtesy of the Wall Street Journal).

Defending the bill against suggestions that the penalties are overly harsh, Chin has maintained that the bill has been drafted to allow police and other enforcement agency discretion, and is based on standard wording under civil and misdemeanour laws on public safety.

Chin's constituency includes New York's Chinatown, which is a hot spot for counterfeit product trading.