Highlights:
- In the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, Snapdeal has been listed along with four Indian shopping complexes
- A section addressing the role of internet platforms in promoting the import of counterfeit and pirated products into the United States is included in the report for the first time
- The USTR said Snapdeal remains a concern as volume of counterfeit products on this platform has increased over the past year
In the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy released by the Office of the US Trade Representative, Snapdeal, one of India’s largest e-commerce sites, along with four Indian shopping complexes, two of them in New Delhi alone, appeared.
Heera Panna in Mumbai, Palika Bazaar and Tank Road in Delhi, Kidderpore in Kolkata, are the four Indian markets that have been mentioned in the list.
In the last list of notorious markets, Aizawl’s Millennium Center was listed, but now it has been replaced by Palika Bazaar.
Robert Lighthizer, a US Trade Representative said, “Holding intellectual property rights violators accountable and ensuring that American innovators and creators have a full and fair opportunity to use and profit from their work is critical for both physical and e-commerce markets.”
The 2020 Review of Notorious Markets identifies 39 online markets and 34 physical markets that are reported to be involved in or have promoted significant trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy, in addition to addressing the role of e-commerce in promoting the sale of pirated and counterfeit products.
A section addressing the role of internet platforms in promoting the import of counterfeit and pirated products into the United States is included in the report for the first time.
Robert Lighthizer, explained further and said, “Today, the greatest risk of importation of counterfeit and pirated goods, harming both US content creators and US consumers, is posed not by foreign flea markets and dark web sites but by inadequate policies and inadequate intervention by e-commerce companies that market and sell foreign goods to US clients.”
The official from USTR, Robert Lighthizer said, “Contending piracy and counterfeits will require constant effort by both the federal government and by companies that profit from the sale of such goods.”
Although the bulk of counterfeit products confiscated by U.S. law enforcement agencies are from China and Hong Kong. The issue is global – 92% by value – with additional major origin points, like India, Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, the report said.
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According to US Trade Representative (USTR) Snapdeal remains a concern for right holders who report, the volume of counterfeit products on this platform has increased over the past year.
The USTR Report said, “According to a November 2018 survey, 37 per cent of purchasers reported that they had received a counterfeit product from Snapdeal.” The report of US Trade Representative also mentioned in its report, “Snapdeal’s founders were accused of criminal conduct in India for selling counterfeit products there in July 2019. Right holders have also taken legal action against Snapdeal for selling counterfeit goods.”
Heera Panna, a major indoor market located in the heart of Mumbai, reportedly provides high-quality counterfeit watches, shoes, clothes, accessories, and cosmetics, the USTR said. The right holders warn that there are health and safety threats to counterfeit cosmetics sold on this market.
Kidderpore in Kolkata, locally known as the Fancy Market, allegedly sells counterfeit consumer electronics, clothing, cosmetics, and pirated software and media, mostly in bulk quantities, the report said.
The underground market in Delhi, Palika Bazaar, is reportedly well-known for the trade in counterfeit goods. Reportedly, many customers are students and other young people who want fashionable brands at low prices. The market is also a popular tourist destination, the USTR said.
Tank Road continues to sell counterfeit items, including apparel and footwear, according to the report. Other Indian markets, including Gaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road, are also reportedly supplied with wholesale counterfeit products from this market.
Right holders report that it is costly and difficult to conduct enforcement actions at this venue, and sellers also tend to have advanced knowledge of raids, restricting their efficacy, it said.
