Tuesday, May 30, 2017

The menace of counterfeit products continues to prey on consumer confidence and the brand value of Dubai. Taking advantage of superior value of original labels and products, imitation goods such as luxury clothing, accessories, phones, cosmetics and vehicle parts are among the counterfeit items sold in the open market. A crackdown by Dubai Police has resulted in the seizure of counterfeit versions of branded products including women’s bags, belts and expensive watches worth Dh114.5 million in the first quarter of 2017. Authorities have handled as many as 71 cases this year relating to fake goods, and arrested 77 people suspected of peddling a range of fake labels — from cheap construction tools to fake currency notes. Over the years, Dubai has been at the forefront of the fight against counterfeit products. Several campaigns highlighting the dangers of buying fake electronic accessories, cosmetics, vehicle parts among other items have been undertaken from time to time.

Apart from confiscating imitation products and destroying them, authorities have worked closely with brand owners to keep the local market free of fakes. While authorities are leaving no stone unturned to combat the sale of such goods, consumers also share the responsibility to resist buying counterfeit items. Besides posing a serious health and safety risk (because of the poor and unauthorised quality of materials used), fake products result in the infringements of intellectual property rights, incurring massive losses to genuine brands. Dubai is globally renowned for its culture of hospitality and the ultimate shopping experience. We must ensure that ‘Brand Dubai’ remains both authentic and trustworthy.

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