Look-alike goods infringe trademark and design rights and may constitute passing off. often inferior to the brand named goods, sometimes, as with fake alcoholic beverages, creams and pharmaceuticals, the fake goods are dangerous to the consumer. The brand owner and tax loses significant sums to pirate manufacturers and distributors, and generally, worldwide, national economies lose tax revenue.
In an interesting article found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8215519.stm
the BBC warn tourists that some countries fine and imprison consumers of pirate goods and not only vendors.
Be warned!
