Online shopping has made shopping fast and convenient: today, virtually any product can be ordered in just a few minutes. At the same time, as e-commerce grows, so does the number of counterfeit products. Counterfeits are sold through marketplaces, social media, online stores, and other online platforms, and outwardly, they are sometimes almost indistinguishable from the originals.
That is why the IP Office, in partnership with the online platform OLX.UA, is launching the “Trust the Original” awareness campaign. The campaign’s goal is to explain to consumers how to identify counterfeits and to businesses why intellectual property protection is a crucial component of brand trust.
A new practical recommendation from the IP Office and OLX teams reminds buyers: before making a purchase, it’s important to check not only the product itself but also the seller, the product’s origin, and the information in the listing. After all, a low price or an attractive offer can sometimes hide not a good deal, but a counterfeit.
How to Spot a Counterfeit Before You Buy
One of the main red flags can be a price that’s too low. If a product from a well-known brand is being sold for several times less than in official stores, this should prompt you to do some additional research.
At the same time, a low price alone does not necessarily mean that the item is a counterfeit. The seller may be clearing out leftover stock from a collection, selling used items, or holding a clearance sale. That’s why it’s important to consider all the factors together.
Before making a purchase, pay attention to the quality of the photos and the product description. Be wary if the seller uses only promotional photos from the internet, cannot provide additional images of the product, or avoids giving specific answers about its origin.
You should also check:
– whether the product name and labeling match those of the original product;
– whether there are any errors in the brand name or description;
– whether the product has the appropriate labeling, serial number, or other means of identification;
– whether the packaging, contents, and appearance match the information on the manufacturer’s official websites;
– whether the seller can provide documents confirming the product’s origin.
You should be especially careful when buying electronics, cosmetics, perfumes, clothing, shoes, accessories, children’s products, and other popular categories where the risk of counterfeits is particularly high.
You need to check not only the product but also the seller
In today’s e-commerce landscape, the seller themselves is an important source of information.
Before placing an order, you should check their profile, reviews, sales history, and other listings. If a seller consistently offers dozens of “authentic” products from various well-known brands at suspiciously low prices, this could be a red flag.
Don’t be shy about asking questions. A reliable seller can usually explain where the item comes from, provide additional photos, and give details about its condition and contents.
Pay special attention to the payment method. A request to urgently transfer money to a card without the opportunity to inspect the item should raise red flags. It’s safer to use the platform’s official payment tools and keep all purchase records.
In the event of a dispute, your correspondence with the seller, photos of the item, the receipt, or other documents can serve as important evidence.
Counterfeits Are Not Just the Buyer’s Problem
Counterfeits harm more than just those who spend money on substandard goods. Manufacturers who invest in product development, design, advertising, and brand building also suffer from counterfeits.
For businesses, the emergence of counterfeits means a loss of revenue, reputational risks, and a decline in consumer trust. A buyer who has purchased a low-quality counterfeit may not even realize that the product was counterfeit and may associate the negative experience specifically with the original brand.
That is why intellectual property protection is crucial not only for large international companies. Small and medium-sized businesses may also face the copying of their trademarks, designs, packaging, or other elements that contribute to a product’s brand recognition.
Modern protection measures can take many forms: from registering trademarks and industrial designs to using QR codes, unique labeling, digital watermarks, and other technologies that help verify product authenticity.
However, it’s important to remember: the best protection begins before an infringement becomes widespread. Businesses should secure their intellectual property rights in advance and monitor how their brand and products are used online.
What to Do If You’ve Purchased a Counterfeit Product
If you have doubts about the authenticity of a product after receiving it, don’t rush to discard the packaging, receipt, or correspondence with the seller. On the contrary, it is important to keep all materials that can confirm the purchase.
First and foremost, you should contact the seller and the platform through which the purchase was made. If there are grounds to believe the product is counterfeit, you can report the infringement and demand an appropriate response.
For rights holders, the situation requires a more comprehensive approach. It is necessary to document the infringement, gather evidence, determine exactly which intellectual property rights have been infringed, and select the appropriate remedy.
Depending on the situation, this may involve contacting the infringer, filing a complaint on the marketplace, using out-of-court mechanisms, or taking the matter to court or other competent authorities.
Counterfeiting has long ceased to be a problem limited to major brands. Today, it directly affects buyers, sellers, marketplaces, and the entire e-commerce market. That is why, before making a purchase, it’s important to follow a simple rule: check the product, check the seller, and don’t rush into a decision just because of an attractive price.
For businesses, this situation serves as yet another reminder of the need to protect their brand, designs, content, and other intellectual property in a timely manner. After all, trust in a brand is built over years, but losing that trust due to the emergence of counterfeits can happen much faster.
If you’ve encountered unauthorized use of your brand, the sale of counterfeit products, or need assistance protecting your intellectual property – please contact our law firm. We’ll help you assess the situation and choose an effective way to protect your rights.
copyright / counterfeiting / intellectual property / trademark
