[*StarDust*]

Buy fake Fendi and get fined in France, Italy
August 24, 2009

LIKE that fake Fendi bag in the flea market?


THE REAL MCCOY: Be sure you have an original Fendi bag, like the one above, the next time you travel to Europe. ST FILE PICTURE

Well, you'd better think twice if you're shopping in some European countries.

Because you could be fined thousands of dollars for something you've always thought was no big deal.

Sky News reported yesterday that tourists who buy fake designer sunglasses, handbags and watches on their summer holidays could be fined thousands of pounds, lawyers have warned.

This is because the authorities in countries like France and Italy are stepping up a campaign against sales of counterfeit goods.

Fines in France can be as high as 300,000euros ($617,400).

The French Customs service said: 'Cracking down on counterfeits is a major priority for the French General Customs and Excise Directorate, which is more determined than ever to stop the scourge of counterfeiting.

'As part of this action, it has stepped up its controls to combat 'counterfeiting tourism', particularly active in the summer season.'

The Italian tourist board warns that tourists caught buying fakes could be handed a 10,000-euro penalty as part of a 'national crackdown'.

Items it has identified include purses, sunglasses, watches, and belts bearing luxury labels such as Prada, Gucci, and Fendi among others.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has raised fears about the growing involvement of organised international criminal gangs in the market for fake goods.

It said recently: 'Without doubt, one of the principal methods of dispersing counterfeits is the 'ant-like' traffic of tourists returning home from holidays, bringing back souvenirs.

'Each year, tens of millions of articles are transported by passengers worldwide, often unaware of their involvement in the trafficking, but enabling criminal organisations to profit nonetheless.'

Ms Susie Winter, director general of the Alliance Against Intellectual Property Theft, which represents the creative industry, said: 'We would urge people to think about where their money is going.

'These are not cheeky people making an honest living on a Sunday morning. These are hardened criminals.'

Source: http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,211416,00.html?

[cutepetz]

I heard about this.. and it really happens..
good idea.. I think they should really stop selling fake stuff because the designers and makers did hardwork on those branded goods