Could Be In For Some Rocky Times In The Short Term

[crystalcranium]

Among the topics, the problem of intelluctual property rights infringement. Surprised we haven't heard of an EMS slow down. guess the Christmas shopping season isnt a great time to inspect packages.

Link to a Newsweek/MSNBC article. Surprisingly, only passing mention of counterfeit watch trade.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16213638/site/newsweek/

[tonyp1]

Wow Im reading so much about the dangers of purchasing counterfeited goods. Its not my place to say being a NOOB but I think theres something bigger at play here (the crunch of the middle class). I never see laymen or fast food employees wearing fake watches. Most of the time when I see What I think may be a fake its on the wrist of a professional IE college educated business men. So while I feel for corporate America when it comes to piracy they have to realize that their drive for cheap labor while also driving up the cost of their own goods is partially what fuels this counterfeit market. A steel Rolex Sub cost 25 times what it did 40 years ago.

Edited December 15, 2006 by tonyp1

[tonyp1]

I have a Rolex catalog from 1973

GMT-MASTER $186

COSMOGRAPH $241

SUBMARINER $207

SEA-DWELLER$207

EXPLORER$160

MILGAUSS $186

[crystalcranium]

While I think we're the most maligned and one of the most visible examples of the counterfeit trade, it's the tens of millions of computers running on pirated software that makes up the bulk of the IPR issue. I do think however, when the crackdown comes, it will be across the board regardless of how significant the business.

And it is coming, for real or for show. China will be showcased in 2008 for the Olympics and they have some significant impetus to crack down for real economic reasons and for reasons of potential embarassment.

[jfreeman420]

It seems like the US is concerned with intellectual property that is produced here in the US, and rightly so. I think there wasn't much mention of watches because these are mostly made in Switzerland. Why should we care about their trademarks? Do what you want, but don't mess with the US. The continual hipocracy that is our government.