Editing Counterfeit (section)

{{short description|Making a copy or imitation which is represented as the original}}
{{Other uses|Counterfeit (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Counterfeit designer shirts.jpg|thumb|Counterfeit [[t-shirt]]s at a [[flea market]]]]A '''counterfeit''' is a fake or unauthorized [[replica]] of a genuine product, such as money, documents, designer items, or other valuable goods.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=counterfeit |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/counterfeit |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en |quote="A counterfeit is the fraudulent copy of money, documents, designer pieces, or other valuable items."}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=WTO {{!}} Glossary - counterfeit |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/glossary_e/counterfeit_e.htm |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.wto.org |quote="Unauthorized representation of a registered trademark carried on goods identical or similar to goods for which the trademark is registered, with a view to deceiving the purchaser into believing that he/she is buying the original goods."}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=WTO {{!}} intellectual property (TRIPS) - agreement text - enforcement |url=https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/27-trips_05_e.htm#fnt-14 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.wto.org |quote=(a)  “counterfeit trademark goods” shall mean any goods, including packaging, bearing without authorization a trademark which is identical to the trademark validly registered in respect of such goods, or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from such a trademark, and which thereby infringes the rights of the owner of the trademark in question under the law of the country of importation;}}</ref> Counterfeiting generally involves creating an imitation of a genuine item that closely resembles the original to deceive others into believing it is authentic.<ref>{{cite book |title=American Jurisprudence 2d |publisher=West |year= |edition=2nd |volume=20 |section=Counterfeiting § 1 |quote="The term 'counterfeit' signifies the imitation of a genuine article having a resemblance intended to deceive and be taken for the original."}}</ref> 

Counterfeit products are often made to take advantage of the higher value of the original product, typically using lower-quality materials or production methods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counterfeiting (Intended for a non-legal audience) |url=https://www.inta.org/fact-sheets/counterfeiting-intended-for-a-non-legal-audience/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=International Trademark Association |language=en |quote="In simple terms, counterfeits are imitations of real products that are manufactured without approval from the owner of the brand. Counterfeit products are usually of substantially lower quality than the authentic goods and can even be dangerous, as they are often poorly made or made using dangerous or toxic chemicals and materials. Unfortunately, many well-known and successful companies, spanning just about every industry, fall victim to counterfeiting."}}</ref> Counterfeit food, drinks, medicines, and personal care products can contain harmful or inactive ingredients, causing anything from mild issues to serious, life-threatening ones.<ref>{{cite book |author=OECD/EUIPO |url=https://doi.org/10.1787/117e352b-en |title=Dangerous Fakes: Trade in Counterfeit Goods that Pose Health, Safety and Environmental Risks |date=2022 |publisher=OECD Publishing |series=Illicit Trade |location=Paris |doi=10.1787/117e352b-en |isbn=978-92-64-34676-5 |quote="Counterfeit food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and related personal care items which have been improperly formulated or which contain ingredients that are harmful can have effects ranging from mild inconveniences to consumers, to life-threatening situations. Moreover, in the case of pharmaceuticals, the lack of active ingredients can deprive consumers of the possibility to treat diseases effectively, thus prolonging illnesses that would otherwise be treatable."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Eban |first=Katherine |date=2024-06-04 |title=Why Counterfeit Ozempic Is a Global-Growth Industry |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/counterfeit-ozempic-global-growth-industry |access-date=2024-10-13 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-31 |title=Overdose deaths from fake pills are rising, especially among younger adults |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/overdose-deaths-fake-pills-are-rising-especially-younger-adults-rcna102543 |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=NBC News |language=en |quote="The CDC report, released to coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day, found that from mid-2019 to the end of 2021, overdose deaths involving counterfeit drugs more than doubled, from 2% to 4.7%."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahillan |first=Tharanika |date=2024-08-04 |title=Fifth of medicines in Africa may be sub-par or fake, research finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/04/fifth-of-medicines-africa-substandard-fake-research |access-date=2024-10-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |quote="Estimates published last year by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime put the human cost of falsified and substandard medicines at up to 500,000 deaths a year in sub-Saharan Africa."}}</ref> Counterfeit footwear, clothing, and accessories have been found to contain high levels of [[lead]], [[arsenic]], and [[phthalates]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Beth |date=2022-03-24 |title=US counterfeit fashion goods contain dangerous chemicals |url=https://www.just-style.com/news/us-counterfeit-fashion-goods-contain-dangerous-chemicals/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Just Style |language=en-US |quote="A new study shows counterfeit fashion goods contain dangerous levels of chemicals and heavy metals, with 36.2% of counterfeit products tested – including clothing, footwear, and other accessories – failing to comply with US product safety standards."}}</ref>