THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay RCMP are warning the public about counterfeit good. After some recent seizures, the Thunder Bay RCMP would like to remind the public that it is an offence in Canada to sell and distribute merchandise bearing unlicensed or unregistered trademarks without the permission of the trademark owner.
Individuals involved in these types of activities could face charges of fraud under the Criminal Code or charges under the Copyright Act for offering for sale an infringing copy of work where copyright subsists. If convicted, individuals could face imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years under the Criminal Code or fines up to twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months (or both) under theCopyright Act.
Counterfeit goods – whether smuggled into the country or produced in Canada – represent a financial loss to legitimate businesses, governments and taxpayers. Thousands of jobs are lost when legitimate companies lose sales to counterfeiters. These goods are often cheaply made and not up to Canadian standards therefore they not only defraud consumers, but may also represent risks to consumer/user safety.
The following tips may assist the public in determining if the product is counterfeit:
- Package: Examine the packaging and look for spelling errors or shoddy appearance.
- Price: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Place: Buy from reputable retailers and use extra diligence when purchasing items through the Internet.
- Product: Is the quality and appearance of the product satisfactory?
Further information to assist the public is available on the RCMP’s website at:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fep-pelf/ipr-dpi/index-eng.htm
According to Interpol, this type of crime has confirmed links to organized crime and terrorism. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies are committed to undertaking coordinated action to counter the threats posed by IP crime.
Anyone with information regarding the sale or production of counterfeit merchandise is asked to contact the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
