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Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!

Reading time 3 Min.
Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!
Rims after stress test: original (left) and fake (right)

Counterfeit products are not only illegal, they also endanger the safety and health of drivers and other road users. That is why Daimler declared war on product counterfeiters in 2020 and further increased its activities in the process. The main focus was on safety-relevant products such as counterfeit brake discs or wheels. Florian Adt, Head of Legal Product Intellectual Property: “In 2020 over 1,7 million counterfeit Daimler products were confiscated. We initiated and accompanied over 550 raids. That is a slight increase compared to the previous year - despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. ”Due to the global lockdown, numerous raids had to be postponed and many competent courts temporarily suspended their work.

Online counterfeit products

The product pirates often act with a high level of criminal energy and, according to a study by the trade association Unifab, often achieve higher margins than in the drug trade. In many cases, organized counterfeiters have their goods produced under inhumane conditions, regardless of environmental standards, occupational safety or human rights. For laypeople, counterfeit products can often hardly be distinguished visually from original parts, but their quality is usually inferior and they fall short of statutory minimum requirements. They therefore pose a significant risk to the health and safety of customers.

Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!
The car with the fake brake pads (above in the picture) has a significantly longer braking distance.

Due to Corona, online trading increased significantly in 2020. That made this distribution channel even more interesting for counterfeiters. Florian Adt: “We have adjusted our brand protection strategy and expanded the measures against counterfeiting in online retail. In total, we were able to remove 138.000 counterfeit products from online platforms. That is about three times as much as in the same period before the pandemic. "

The Intellectual Property Enforcement division is global and closely networked with the customs and law enforcement authorities. The brand protection strategy comprises the three pillars of "tracking down, attacking and preventing". The brand protectors check suspicious offers on online platforms or trade fairs around the world and can thus identify counterfeiters. Typical alarm signals are a conspicuously low price, anomalies in the product quality or sales from dubious online sources. The aim of the worldwide raids with local authorities are the large networks of counterfeiters and the smashing of their production and sales structures.

criminal proceedings or lawsuits

Further measures are criminal proceedings or actions for injunctive relief, information and compensation. Brand protectors also work closely with customs and police on prevention. In training courses and with information material, they raise awareness of the security risks and provide support in distinguishing between originals and forgeries. In this way, the team also makes a contribution to sustainability - not only in terms of safety, but also with a view to human rights and environmental protection.

Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!
Brake pads after stress test: fake (left) and original (right)

Of course, that wasn't the end of it.

tuningblog.eu has a lot of other articles on the subject of auto & tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. But also planned changes in the law, violations in road traffic, current regulations in the field of STVO or on the subject inspection we would like to inform you regularly. Everything you can find in the category "Test sites, laws, offenses, information". Following an excerpt of the last information:

You are not allowed to park your motorhome everywhere!

Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!

Contest the fine? This is how the objection works!

Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!

Traveling with a motorhome - what should be considered?

Increase in online counterfeit products: Daimler is fighting!

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About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

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