Snapdeal, a prominent e-commerce platform in India, along with four Indian shopping complexes, has been included in the latest 2020 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy released by the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Indian Markets Listed
The four Indian markets mentioned in the report are Heera Panna in Mumbai, Kidderpore in Kolkata, and Palika Bazaar and Tank Road in Delhi. Palika Bazaar replaced Aizawl’s Millennium Center from the previous list.
US Trade Representative’s Statement
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer emphasized the importance of holding intellectual property rights violators accountable and ensuring fair opportunities for innovators and creators. The report addresses the role of e-commerce in facilitating the sale of pirated and counterfeit goods, identifying 39 online markets and 34 physical markets engaged in trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.
Concerns and Challenges
While the majority of counterfeit goods originate from China and Hong Kong, Snapdeal remains a concern for right holders, reporting an increase in counterfeit products on the platform. Heera Panna in Mumbai is known for offering high-quality counterfeit goods, including watches, footwear, apparel, accessories, and cosmetics, with health and safety risks associated with counterfeit cosmetics.
Kidderpore in Kolkata and Palika Bazaar in Delhi are reported to sell counterfeit consumer electronics, apparel, cosmetics, and pirated software and media. Tank Road in Delhi continues to sell counterfeit products, with sellers often having advanced knowledge of enforcement actions, limiting their effectiveness.
Conclusion
The report highlights the global nature of the problem, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts by both governments and companies to combat piracy and counterfeiting. It underscores the critical role of effective policies and actions in protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring consumer safety.
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