In fact, you are actually the real VICTIM, because buying counterfeiting :

• Endangers your own health and safety
• Supports and finances organized crime
• Is accepting underground labour (including child exploitation)
• Supports know-how's piracy
• Reduces employment and stifles growth
• Is illegal and might lead to criminal sanctions

Counterfeited items threaten the health and safety of citizens, their jobs, competitiveness, trade and investments in research and innovation. And leads sometimes to criminal sanctions.

Today, there is no trade segment free of pirated goods : medicines, planes and cars spare parts, power tools, medical supplies and equipment (such as pace makers), glasses, CDs, drinks and food products, cosmetics and perfumes, textiles and watches may all be counterfeited. When they are, this means that no quality and safety tests are performed. Counterfeiters don't care about safety standards, product materials or your family's health and safety. Their only interest lies in making money. Most of the time, Counterfeited watches are produced by using less solid material, and even sometimes material which may be harmful (allergen, toxic, etc.). A fake watch is never a good choice as it's less reliable.

Counterfeiting represents 5% to 9% of the worldwide market... a revenue estimated up to 500 billion euros. By comparison, human trafficking (prostitution / slavery) is estimated at 7 billion. Counterfeiting is a criminal activity; buying counterfeited items contributes to the financing of organized crime and all kinds of illegal business. You do not tolerate theft, drug trafficking or tobacco smuggling ? Counterfeits are often produced using similar infrastructures and sold through the same channels and by the same offenders. Links between counterfeiting activities and criminal networks have been established in many cases.

These exploited people work in very hard conditions, receive a derisory salary and do not get any welfare, legal or medical protection.

The counterfeiter seeks to appropriate somebody else's goodwill and profit without due regarding investments done by intellectual property (IP) rights' real owners.Watchmakers have perfected a know-how requiring thousand hours of work in order to create unique timepieces with harmonious shapes and faultless quality. IP is protected for two main reasons: acknowledgment and protection of creativity must be granted, investment and risks taken must be rewarded.

Counterfeited items have been linked to organized crime groups and purchasing them can have a negative impact on the economy. Legitimate retailers are unable to compete Bankruptcies increase Loss of jobs This form of criminality contributes to the reduction of employment which is estimated to more than 200,000 jobs worldwide per year, of which 100,000 in Europe alone. At State level, this represents revenue losses, thus public money which cannot be invested for citizen's welfare.

Buying fakes is not a harmless and ordinary act. As a buyer, criminal and financial sanctions may be pronounced against you. The mere possession of counterfeits is considered an offence in some countries. Furthermore, damages could be claimed by IP rights holders. Customs are also allowed to seize and destroy illegal items. In some countries customs may pronounce important fines.

Buying genuine products supports sustainable development, fair competition and fair trade.

As the old saying goes, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is !"



If you need more information about counterfeiting :

• Swiss Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Platform
• Counterfeit watch and counterfeit consumer goods on Wikipedia
• Site du comité national français anti-contrefaçon (CNAC)
• Harper's Bazaar : "fakes are never in fashion" campaign
• The Economic Impact of Counterfeiting (pdf 466 KB) (OECD Report )