US names ‘notorious markets’ for piracy, counterfeiting
US Trade Representative Michael Froman announces Notorious Markets List for 2013, which identifies physical and online markets known for dealing in counterfeit and pirated goods
The United States on Wednesday named China the leading place for physical markets selling counterfeit goods, while websites in Europe, South America and Canada led in online sales of fakes.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the Notorious Markets List for last year highlights markets that allegedly harm US businesses and jobs by infringing on intellectual property rights.
Froman said the markets were selected for the “notorious” label “because they exemplify concerns about trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy on a global basis and because the scale and popularity of these marketplaces can cause economic harm to US and other intellectual property right holders.”
The “notorious” list does not reflect findings of legal violations, normally covered by the annual US Special 301 Report on unfair trade practices.
The trade representative said the new list was aimed at helping the United States and foreign governments prioritise enforcement of intellectual property rights.
“The markets we have identified unfairly take from these American workers, diminishing the value and salability of their work and threatening their jobs,” Froman said in a statement.
In addition, he said, consumers can be harmed by counterfeit goods like medicines, personal care products and automotive parts.
