Harper's Bazaar: Friend or Faux? The Fight Against Fashion Fakes
New York partner Heather McDonald was quoted in the January 2010 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine in the article, "Friend or Faux? The Fight Against Fashion Fakes."
According to the article, the latest methods to stop fakes include microscopic nanoparticles, which can be attached to garments and serve as a unique signature, identifying whether or not a product is genuine, and DNA fingerprinting, in which genetic material is applied to legitimate goods. In addition, companies are bringing civil-action lawsuits against third-party infringers: property owners renting space to counterfeiters, Internet service providers that host sites selling fake goods, and auction sites that facilitate the sale of counterfeits, according to the article.
According to McDonald, who specializes in intellectual-property enforcement, the biggest hurdle is demand: "As long as there is public demand for counterfeits, someone will supply them. It's a matter of personal responsibility. Would you tell your kids that if they don't have enough money for a book they want that it's okay to go to a bookstore and steal it? If you cannot afford the real thing, buy a genuine item you can afford."