The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A world where the fake rake in bucks

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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A world where the fake rake in bucks

City Bureau

Chennai makes a thriving trade in goods that look as good as the original

Photo: R. Ragu

SHINING BUT SHAM: Most consumer goods are duplicated. An array of clocks, flasks, cookware and toys on display at a pavement shop off Anna Salai. —

Chennai: From watches and handbags to electronics and cosmetics, Chennai has a thriving economy in fake merchandise, grey market goods and products bearing names similar to big brands.

There are shoes called ‘Weebok’, DVD players called ‘Samsonic’ (a combination of Samsung and Panasonic?), fake cosmetics with international brand names and top of the line cameras that can be bought at half price but without a bill.

The low cost that often delights customers who buy such products often comes at a price: poor quality and safety risk. Consumer rights activist R. Desikan said the highest number of duplicates can be found in motor spare parts and electrical goods. Many electrical products, including iron box, immersion heater, insulated cables and lamps must compulsorily have ISI certification. “But the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) doesn’t have enough staff to go around or check. Usually, the enforcement is left to the State police.”

Police, however, say they can take action only on a specific complaint. “When branded products are faked, the company prefers a complaint… Besides copyright or trademark violation rules, cheating cases can also be made out,” said a police official.

Organised trade

Contrary to the popular perception that manufacture of duplicates is taken up by small players and poor traders looking to make a living, the trade in fakes is quite structured. Many buyers know that the goods are fake but poor or illiterate buyers can end up coughing up a lot of money for these sub-standard goods.

In the first week of this month, Chennai police seized duplicate wristwatches of ‘Titan’ and ‘Sonata’ brands worth Rs.1.5 crore. With spare-parts coming in from northern states, the watches were assembled in Chennai. The crackdown came after a complaint from Titan. The accused persons in the racket were booked under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. The watches, manufactured for about Rs.100, were sold seven times the cost.

In a bid to avoid legal action, persons faking products use names that are almost similar to the popular brands. For instance, ‘Motorola’ could be mis-spelt ’Motarola’. However, this also attracts legal action under the Act’s Section 2 (1) (d) which says that a mark shall be deemed to be “deceptively similar” to another mark if it so nearly resembles (the other mark) as it could mislead or cause confusion.

One of the big retailers of consumer goods with several showrooms in T. Nagar stocks electronic products with names similar to that of big brands. Watches called ‘Sony’ and ‘Sonex’, DVD players called JVD (inspired by the firm JVC) and bags called ‘Anita Reebok’ were available for sale.

Apparel and cosmetics

Apparel manufacturers in the city have been finding that fake merchandise can sometimes be so original-looking that they confuse the customer. Jagdish Prasad Sarda, managing director of Venfield Apparel Manufacturers, said, “Many fakes are close to the original but the wash care instructions give the game away,” he said.

Venfield Apparel once found a manufacturer of fakes of their products in Vyasarpadi. “The retail markets accept fakes at very low prices. They may sell these at the prices of the original, branded garments,” Mr. Sarda said. Many youngsters, who are brand-conscious but cannot afford the originals, go for the fake jeans and T-shirts that have tags with names of big firms.

Duplicate merchandise is more dangerous when it comes to cosmetics. Talcum powder, face creams, perfumes that are faked can be bought cheaply but at the risk of allergies. Cheap toys that use lead-based paint have also flooded the market. “Is safety not more important than the cost of the product,” asks consumer activist Desikan.

(With inputs from Kannal Achuthan, S.Vijay Kumar, Zara Ebrahim and Karthik Balasubramanian)

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