Knockoff : the deadly trade in counterfeit goods : the true story of the world's fastest growing crime wave

In this compelling account, Knockoff exposes the truth behind the fakes and uncovers the shocking consequences of dealing in counterfeit goods. Travelling across the globe, Tim Phillips shows that counterfeiting isn't a victimless crime; it is an illegal global industry undermining the world's economies. Based on interviews with victims, investigators and the people who sell counterfeits, Knockoff reveals the link between what we see as "innocent" fakes and organized crime. Phillips describes in detail how the counterfeiters' criminal network costs jobs, cripples developing countries, breeds corruption and violence, and kills thousands of people every year. He shows that by turning a blind eye to the problem, we become accomplices to theft, extortion and murder. Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction: The knockoff economy......Page 12 1 The second-oldest profession......Page 18 Super Cow......Page 19 Lies, damn lies, knockoffs......Page 21 Counterfeit equals theft......Page 22 The little guy loses......Page 23 It’s your responsibility......Page 26 2 Brand bandits......Page 30 Fake economics......Page 31 Knockoffs can seriously damage your health......Page 32 The ghost shift......Page 36 3 Counterfeit Alley......Page 42 Something for the weekend......Page 43 Showdown in Midtown......Page 46 Canal Street......Page 49 The handbag of success......Page 54 Party bags......Page 59 Infiltrating the middle classes......Page 61 Silk Alley......Page 66 Waking the sleeping cat......Page 68 The top of the speed......Page 71 The big country......Page 74 6 A greater Europe......Page 78 The Italian job......Page 79 Making crime pay......Page 81 The Wild East......Page 84 Crossing borders......Page 88 7 I thought I had seen everything......Page 90 It’s war......Page 91 Under the surface......Page 94 8 Where buyers and sellers meet......Page 98 The global marketplace......Page 99 Trust and safety......Page 100 Anything goes?......Page 103 9 War and peace......Page 106 Money talks......Page 107 Where are the good guys?......Page 108 Tough Love......Page 111 Closing the deal......Page 113 10 Illusions......Page 120 The content crisis......Page 121 Pirates ahoy......Page 123 A silent spring in Hanoi......Page 124 11 Lifting the stone......Page 128 A hidden problem......Page 129 One in three......Page 132 Organized criminals......Page 134 12 Ordinary criminals......Page 138 Snide......Page 139 Global cottage industry......Page 141 The lowest priority......Page 143 13 Turning guns into CD burners......Page 148 The Lion Kings......Page 149 Everybody loves a bargain......Page 151 A black hole......Page 154 14 Making a scene......Page 156 Behind The Scene......Page 157 From the top......Page 158 Stop, thief......Page 161 It’s like an addiction......Page 163 One out of three ain’t bad......Page 166 Evolution, not revolution......Page 168 Under the counter......Page 170 Quick! Send for the ferret......Page 173 16 The capital of bogus parts......Page 180 Bogus beware......Page 181 Blind and toothless?......Page 183 The $10,000 bolt......Page 185 17 Under the hood......Page 190 A perfect environment......Page 191 A workshop near you......Page 193 18 Show us the dead bodies......Page 198 Redefining the problem......Page 199 Tap water doesn’t cure cancer......Page 201 A good-looking tablet......Page 202 Controlling the supply chain......Page 203 The 1 per cent solution......Page 206 19 Men in white coats......Page 212 A deal you can refuse......Page 213 Drug tourism......Page 215 Someone has to pay......Page 218 20 Dora Akunyili must not die......Page 220 The NAFDAC woman......Page 221 Cleaning up......Page 223 Muddying the waters......Page 226 Conclusion: Whack a mole......Page 230 Appendix: Further reading and contacts......Page 234 Index......Page 244 Counterfeiting Is An Industry Growing Faster Than Almost Any Other In The World. It's A Global Business With Its Own Manufacturing, Distribution And Retail Networks And Represents A Market Worth $350 Billion Every Year. Knockoff Exposes The Shocking Truth That Counterfeiting Isn't Harmless - It's Far From It. Tim Phillips Travelled To America, China, France And Russia Amongst Other Countries To Research This Book With The Support Of Several Bodies Including The New York Police, The Business Software Alliance And The International Chambers Of Commerce. As Well As Speaking To Those Affected By The Crime, He Met People Convicted Of It And Questioned Solicitors Who Defended Them. Knockoff Takes An Unbiased Stance And Asks Uncomfortable Questions That Are Relatively Ignored, Such As: If Drugs To Treat Aids Are Too Expensive In The Third World, Is It Not Suprising That There Is A Market For Low-quality Fakes? When The Average Piece Of Software In Russia Costs A Month's Wages, Is Counterfeiting Not Inevitable? If Enforcement Is Failing, Should Industry Concentrate On Incentives And Education Instead? Knockoff Thoroughly Examines All Susceptible Industries Incuding: Entertainment; Drugs; Software; Luxury Goods; Car And Aero Parts And Consumer Goods. Knockoff exposes the truth behind the fakes and uncovers the shocking consequences of dealing in counterfeit goods. Traveling across the globe, Tim Phillips shows that counterfeiting isn't a victimless crime; it is an illegal global industry undermining the world's economies. Based on interviews with victims, investigators, and the people who sell counterfeits, Knockoff reveals the link between what we see as "innocent" fakes and organized crime. Phillips descibes in detail how counterfeiters' criminal network costs jobs, cripples developing countires, breeds corruption and violence, and kills thousands of people every year. He shows that by turning a blind eye to the problem, we become accomplices to theft, extortion, and murder Counterfeiting is one of the fastest growing industries in the world - it is a market worth more than 500 billion, or 7 per cent of the world's trade. In this compelling account, Knockoff exposes the truth behind the fakes and uncovers the shocking consequences of dealing in counterfeit goods