an unlicensed copy of something, especially fashion clothing, intended to be sold at a lower price than the original.
Knockoff: A product that resembles another item, but isn't exactly identical. Can be found online and in stores, often at reputable retailers or brands, usually at a cheaper price than the original items that inspired them. Not illegal, but can be challenged in court by the brand that inspired the design.
Counterfeit items actually have copies of a brand or designer logo or symbol. Counterfeiters purposefully make them nearly identical to the original product. Knockoffs, on the other hand, merely resemble the original item closely.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “knockoff: A copy that sells for less than the original.”, “counterfeit: Made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive.” The key difference between the way these are defined is by the words “copy” and “imitation”.
Why Knockoffs Are Good For The Fashion Industry In The Knockoff Economy, Kal Raustiala and Christopher Sprigman say that in the world of fashion, copycats make styles go in and out of vogue faster. Copying breeds competition, Raustiala says, and that makes clothes cheaper for consumers.
Counterfeit goods are produced with the malicious intent to deceive and mislead people into believing that the items are genuine when they are not. However, replica goods are not passed off as the original products. Instead, they are acknowledged to be merely identical to the branded goods.
The manufacture and sales of counterfeit goods is illegal. Buying counterfeit goods, however, is not illegal, even if you do so knowingly. However, there are many reasons why you should not do so.
Replicas and fakes are both things which are not original, but these words are used in different contexts. A replica is basically used to indicate a product which is not real but is used for some specific reasons whereas a fake is not just a product. It is used in many contexts.
The most important thing is the quality difference between them. Simply put, replica watches have more than 90% of the DNA of real watches. Even good replicas are exactly the same as real watches. Plus their prices are very beautiful.
Selling brand name "replica" products is unlawful throughout the United States. Informing the consumer that your product is a "replica" does NOT protect you from infringement liability and, in fact, it is an ADMISSION that you're selling counterfeit product.
"It's illegal to sell counterfeit items. Facebook doesn't allow counterfeits to be sold on the platform," the company explains. Facebook describes a counterfeit good as a "knockoff or replica version of another company's product".
This means that the item is created with a careful eye for detail, in an attempt to closely resemble the original that it is inspired by. Therefore, you will notice that the high-quality replicas usually are made of materials that are as close as possible to the real thing.
In the U.S., it's illegal for a person to sell counterfeit merchandise. Both state and federal laws prohibit this type of conduct. If you knowingly sell or intend to sell a fake item, you could be sentenced to years in prison and/or be ordered to pay steep fines.
In a stricter sense, the word refers to a copy created or supervised by the artist of the original work. Definitions of replica. copy that is not the original; something that has been copied. synonyms: replication, reproduction. types: toy.
In the United States, selling fake bags is illegal under the federal trademark law, also known as the Lanham Act. Counterfeiting handbags also violates the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, which Congress passed in 2006.
Selling Fakes Online and Consumer Safety
Counterfeit products sold online often don't comply with CPSC guidelines. The CPSC can sue people who manufacture for sale, sell, distribute, or import these products, seeking civil penalties up to $1,250,000.
Legal Implications
It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking.
If you suspect that someone is producing or selling counterfeit goods, you can submit a report online to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. Other federal agencies that investigate reports of counterfeit goods include: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The colloquial term knockoff is often used interchangeably with counterfeit, although their legal meanings are not identical. Knockoff products are those that copy or imitate the physical appearance of other products but which do not copy the brand name or logo of a trademark.
Definition of off-brand
: not identified with a major brand name off-brand sneakers.
The sale and production of counterfeit goods is a crime. If you have information regarding the sale or production of counterfeit merchandise, please use one of the methods outlined below to contact a Crime Stoppers program – your anonymity is guaranteed. The sale and production of counterfeit goods is a crime.
Amazon strives to ensure a trustworthy shopping experience for our customers. By selling on Amazon, you agree that: The sale of counterfeit products is strictly prohibited. You may not sell any products that are not legal for sale, such as products that have been illegally replicated, reproduced, or manufactured.
If you think you have been sold counterfeit goods, or if you suspect somebody is selling fake goods, get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. Your local Trading Standardsoffice can also give you advice. Report it to us online or call 0300 123 2040.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates criminal counterfeiting, piracy, and other federal crimes. You can report suspicions concerning the manufacture or sale of counterfeit or pirated goods to the FBI by contacting your local FBI Office and asking to speak with the Duty Complaint Agent.