Europe tackles rise in fake designer frames

The number of knock-off accessories Ð including frames, belts and bags Ð doubled last year, the biggest increase for any one group.
Overall, 85 million articles Ð mainly from Thailand and China Ð were seized at the EU's external border in 2002, but a staggering 50 million items were captured in the first six months of this year alone.
Marchon is just one manufacturer affected. Managing director Andy Cockayne told optician that counterfeiting was a problem. 'We receive two to three frames per week from consumers, which turn out to be counterfeit, and just this week I've been helping a Trading Standards Authority with a case involving the seizure of a large number of DKNY and Calvin Klein frames,' he explained.
He added it could be difficult for the public to spot a fake, as counterfeiters copied logos and even the CE mark, recognised as a sign of quality.
'The ones I've seen have been very easy to identify, because they're models that we've never made, but consumers don't know that. It is an irritation, but the biggest cost to us is the damage to the reputation of the brand.'
A manufacturing source confirmed that sunglass counterfeiting in the past was predominantly Ray-Ban, as the largest-selling sunglass, but now brands such as Oakley, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, and Gucci, along with other leading designers were being copied. Many seemed to come from the same manufacturing source, using the same frames but different logos and poor quality packaging.
Another problem highlighted by Alan Niblo, Luxottica UKcommercial director, was cheap product sold at markets and kiosks in shopping centres. Packaging had small print underneath large designer branding, highlighting that it was a fraction of the price of the genuine article but at the same time clearly stating that it was not authentic product, making it impossible to take action.
The Commission received 1,600 applications for action from right-holders last year, almost twice as many as in 2000. EU members said they were taking a proactive stance, by introducing a new regulation, setting up a 'strike force' of frontline officials, armed with a risk-analysis manual and improved information sharing.