Anti Counterfeiting

The issue of anti-counterfeiting is becoming more and more prominent in New York and the rest of the world, primarily due to the development and proliferation of the Internet. A result of the sudden and dramatic improvement in communication all over the globe is that an enormous market has opened up to counterfeiters and other violators of intellectual property rights.

One of the most commonly counterfeited items at the moment is the prescription pill. An enormous range of prescription medications can now be purchased over the Internet, without the need for a prescription from a doctor. The vast majority of these medications are counterfeited, which results in a huge loss of income for medication manufacturers. There is also considerable risk attached to the consumption of these pills, as they are not regulated by external health and safety bodies. Anti-counterfeiting aims to curb the distribution of these imitation medications, through initiatives such as the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

Although this term was initially used to apply to imitation medications and goods, it is now being broadened to include the infringement of copyright on the Internet. Music corporations and film production companies have witnessed a significant drop in revenues as a result of these infringements, as Internet file sharing is now a widespread and costly problem. As there is currently very little regulation of the Internet, these companies are finding it very difficult to deal with this issue, and are constantly lobbying for increased legislation.

Counterfeit goods and products are routinely seized in New York and elsewhere, as this is currently a large and profitable industry. Customs officers and other government officials are working consistently to attempt to deal with this issue, and there has been a major federal clamp down on counterfeit imports in the United States. Anti-counterfeiting measures are still in evolution however, as are the methods and techniques employed by professional counterfeiters.