The Most Counterfeited Products
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Bebeto Matthews, AP
What's Hot With Counterfeiters
Name a popular brand, and there's likely a counterfeit version of it available somewhere in the world. The World Customs Organization reports that counterfeit goods account for nearly 10% of worldwide trade, an estimated $500 billion annually. Nearly every industry is affected, ranging from footwear to pharmaceuticals to batteries.
Click through our gallery as BusinessWeek takes a look at some of the industries popular with today's counterfeiters.
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First Up: Counterfeited Product No. 1More From BusinessWeek:
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Kin Cheung, AP
No. 1: Footwear Overall
The product counterfeiters most often try to sneak into the U.S. is footwear. Sneakers, shoes, and other products accounted for 40% of the total knockoff goods seized by U.S. government agencies last year.
Estimated annual industry loss: $12 billion
U.S. agency seizures 2007: $77.8 million
So far this year: $40.3 million
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 2More From BusinessWeek:
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Jacques Brinon, AP
No. 2: Sneakers
Sneaker companies are among the hardest hit footwear manufacturers. In 2007, Adidas says counterfeit footwear and apparel valued at $7 million was seized by government agencies worldwide.
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 3More From BusinessWeek:
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Greg Baker, AP
No. 3: Clothing
Clothing is another sector where popular brands are regularly ripped off by counterfeiters. Apparel accounted for 14% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies in 2007
Estimated annual industry loss: $12 billion
Counterfeit seizures 2007: $27 million
So far this year: $15.8 million
Next: Counterfeited Product 4More From BusinessWeek:
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Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
No. 4: Sports Jerseys
Recently, two Atlanta men were sentenced to 15 and 51 months of jail time, respectively, for selling more than $2.2 million dollars worth of counterfeit jerseys on eBay. The men were also found to have 22,000 jerseys, which were seized by authorities, many of which were knock-off NFL jerseys. Reebok is the official jersey maker of the NFL.
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 5More From BusinessWeek:
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Franka Bruns, AP
No. 5: Consumer Electronics
If you're buying popular electronic gadgets off the street, there's a good chance it's a fake. Consumer electronics (cell phones, radios, power strips, etc.) accounted for 8% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies last year.
Counterfeit seizures 2007: $16 million
So far this year: $9.7 million
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 6More From BusinessWeek:
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Koji Sasahara, AP
No. 6: Batteries
In 2007, Sportsman's Warehouse, with nearly 70 stores nationwide, had to recall roughly 4,400 flashlights sold in its stores because Panasonic identified the batteries in the flashlights as counterfeits, which were a high fire risk and could cause burns.
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 7More From BusinessWeek:
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Aaron Favila, AP
No. 7: Cell Phones
This summer, authorities in New York seized roughly 20,000 counterfeit cell phones, which included knockoffs of nearly every major manufacturer, including LG LPL, Nokia, and Motorola.
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 8More From BusinessWeek:
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Kin Cheung, AP
No. 8: Handbags/Wallets/Backpacks
For people who like labels but don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for the real product, fake purses and handbags have become a popular alternative. Handbags accounted for 7% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. agencies in 2007.
Counterfeit seizures: $14.2 million
So far this year: $9.9 million
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 9More From BusinessWeek:
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Sakchai Lalit, AP
No. 9:
Moet Hennessey Louis VuittonIn an effort to stop the widespread proliferation of Louis Vuitton counterfeits, the company successfully sued online auction site eBay, claiming that up to 90% of the Louis Vuitton products sold on the site were fakes. The company was awarded more than $60 million in the lawsuit, though eBay is appealing.
Next: Counterfeited Product No. 10More From BusinessWeek:
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Keystone, Sandro Campardo, AP
No. 10: Watches
As with most counterfeits, it's hard to tell the real from the fake. That's why expensive timepieces are popular with counterfeiters and some consumers. Watches accounted for 7% of the total counterfeit goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2007.
Counterfeit seizures 2007: $13.3 million
So far this year: $3.3 million
See Rest of Counterfeited Products Gallery
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Recent Comments
Guaranain 02:30:20 PM Oct 07 2008
It is all about cost, I've worked retail management for a long time and frequently hear people (primarily age 50 ) complain about merchadise not being american made. At the same time they always complain about prices. Recently I've resorted to pointing out the fact they due to american wages middle class americans can't afford or refuse to pay american prices. In this case it's knock offs, it's all the same people was to sleep better with their purchases but aren't willing to pay the price for it.The funny part of this article it the estimated annual loss, and I have a few questions. What is the basis for this loss?? Did these companies actually lose any real money? No. What was lost was potential sales, based on their retail price and counterfit units sold, which is a HUGE difference. First this isn't stolen merchandise so manufacturing costs are paid by the counterfitters. Second how many of the counterfit units would have been purchased if they were only offered at a full r
SJ At TWA 01:09:03 PM Oct 07 2008
I bought a Chinese Rolex for $25 5 years ago. I've replaced the battery a couple of times, and it still keeps good time. Looks real accept for the 2nd hand ticking rather than sweeping. So I had a choice..$25 or $2500. No brainer to me.As 90% of our products are made by the Chicoms, and come here legally, I don't have a problem buying safe and high quality ripoffs. Soon even cars will be imported from there. And we will let our families fly down the road at 70MPH in them.
SJ At TWA 01:08:15 PM Oct 07 2008
I bought a Chinese Rolex for $25 5 years ago. I've replaced the battery a couple of times, and it still keeps good time. Looks real accept for the 2nd hand ticking rather than sweeping. So I had a choice..$25 or $2500. No brainer to me.As 90% of our products are made by the Chicoms, and come here legally, I don't have a problem buying safe and high quality ripoffs. Soon even cars will be imported from there. And we will let our families fly down the road at 70MPH in them. So, until the problem of poison food and confronting a dangerous government is confronted, I'm not going to worry about a fake tick-tok
VonPappenheim 12:41:46 PM Oct 07 2008
I see how our government will go to bat for big business and go after people who cut into their huge profits, but couldn't care less about us little guys. When I had somebody send me a $350 counterfeit money order, which is a major felony, they wouldn't do a thing. When I had a $150k burglary they also did nothing. Our government only works for those that pay them (ie. BRIBE), not the hardworking taxpaying citizens. It's time for a revolution, because none of the clowns running for office will fix anything.
Umm Yeah Ok 11:53:06 AM Oct 07 2008
If you dont want people buying knockoffs, dont charge so much for them. Seriously! $100 for a shirt? $150 for shoes, $800 for a purse?!? Be thankful that you even have a business left.
Bluekuhn53 11:51:51 AM Oct 07 2008
RE: sport Jerseys, I think for a gross sales of 2.2 M $ and a profit of probably close to $1M, I would consider the risk of 1.5 to 4.5 years in jail. You would most likely get out early on parole and it would be at worst like earning $200K a year and at best $700K a year. There is no incentive for people NOT to do this.
Jzuppelli 11:12:14 AM Oct 07 2008
the problem here is that people are so stupid that they dont see that 98% of the time they are suckered into buying a name like lv or channel that is what you are paying for is the name, ill make an example i have about 5 football jerseys that are fake and i have 1 real one,the real one cost me $275 dollars and the bootlegs cost me $20. there is absolutly no difference between real and fake with my jerseys and for those people out there who would rather buy a real nfl jersey from nfl.com remember this its all made in CHINA,, I USED TO WORK AT A PLACE CALLED BUFFALO IMPRINTS WE MADE HATS T-SHIRTS ECT. NOW THE MIND BLOWING THING FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HATE BOOTLEGS IS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS "NEW ERA HATS" SO WHY DID NEW ERA HAVE OUR COMPANY MAKE THEIR HATS FOR THEM WHEN THEY WERE BEHIND ON ORDERS, I GUESS YOU COULD CONCIDER IT BOOTLEG IT WASNT MADE AT THEIR FACTORY!!!! THINK ABOUT THAT,,,,WE ALL KNOW SOME BOOTLEGS SUCK REALLY BAD, BUT WHERE I GET MY STUFF FROM I CAN GET ANYTHIN
tamilynn38 11:06:25 AM Oct 07 2008
I agree and america is not an exception to the rule. Our counrty also makes knock-offs.
Shadowred3000 11:04:20 AM Oct 07 2008
That's the American way! Blame every other country for everything, that'll work.....ignorant idiots. It's partly the dumb consumers that fall for stupid fakes. It's obvious when something is fake when it costs $300 then it should (like, say, an expensive sneaker is being sold on the streets for $300 less then it costs....I don't, maybe common sense should tell you NOT to buy it?)
Nvisiblegypsys 10:51:24 AM Oct 07 2008
Another BIG business is counterfeiting musical instruments.......mostly big name guitars.......Gibson U.S.A. is leading the industry fight against this.......it's estimated that 1/3 of all big name guitars on e-bay, are fake........They ALL come from China of course....................How can you be certain you're getting the genuine article you pay your hard earned money for? BUY ONLY FROM AUTHORIZED DEALERS!!!! ANY product on e-bay, that ships directly from China..........has a 99% chance of being fake...............Also...if the price is too good to be true, then its not true....................You get what you pay for.
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