6th April 2007

6th April 2007 - The Alliance Against IP Theft is warning bargain-hunters that buying fake goods at traditional Easter car boot sales could leave them ripped off and out of pocket.

Weekend markets and car boot sales are often awash with counterfeit sportswear, CDs, DVDs, computer games, and even household products such as soap and detergent.

New research commissioned by the Alliance looking at the trade in fake clothing and footwear has found that over £750 million worth of such goods are sold at markets each year – with a total of 33 million items of fake clothes and shoes being bought.  This is the equivalent to each UK adult spending £16. 

Many people are not even aware that what they are buying is fake, with the research revealing that nearly a third of people have or might have unknowingly pick up a fake item of clothing or footwear. 

The research also revealed for the first time that the sale of fake clothing and footwear costs local shops, traders and manufacturers nearly £3.5 billion each year in legitimate sales. 

Director General of the Alliance Susie Winter said: “The car boot sale is part of the Great British Easter weekend, but for too long pirates and counterfeiters have been making money out of bargain hunters.

“Shoppers will be horrified to learn that their money is going straight into the pockets of organised criminals and doing a huge amount of damage to local communities through their links to organised crime, antisocial behaviour and exploitation.

“We need to stamp out the sale of fake goods from our communities because consumers are being ripped off, and local shops and businesses are suffering.”