By Shanea Marshall-
Fake car parts are on the rise in Britain, The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has said.The IPO today issued fresh guidance warning consumers of the serious dangers of fake car parts. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimated that more than €2 billion is lost every year due to counterfeit tyres and batteries alone.
PIPCU, which is run by the City of London Police, have long been waging a war against these types of crimes. In February 2018 Robert Czernik was investigated and sentenced to two counts under Section 92 of the Trade Marks Act for selling fake airbags. He received five months in prison for each count to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months.
The Audi Brand Protection Team said:
Identifying counterfeits has proven to be a real challenge. The sellers’ websites are becoming more and more professional, appearing legitimate to many buyers at first glance. But there are some clues that give counterfeiters away and should put buyers on alert, such as a comparatively cheap price or a typo appearing on the spare part or in the description.
The automotive business has been noted for selling a large number of counterfeit spare parts.. These include service-relevant components like oil filters or air filters , crash-relevant components such as bumpers, radiator grille or bodywork. It also includes safety-relevant parts such as suspension arms, exhaust systems or brake linings. Spare parts produced using inferior materials pose high risks for Audi consumers.
”We are pleased to be part of this campaign to warn and protect our customers. Dr Ros Lynch, Director of Copyright and Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office said:
It is clear counterfeit vehicle parts can pose a serious risk to drivers, passengers and other road users, with potentially life-threatening results. Criminals who produce counterfeit vehicle parts have no concerns about public safety and they use this as an opportunity to profit at the expense of others.
The collaboration between government, industry and law enforcement offers an opportunity to raise awareness, change consumer behaviour and remove these dangerous products from the market”.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Nick Court of the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) said:
Counterfeit car parts increase the risk of people experiencing a serious injury. It’s essential that car owners and those who work in this industry are made aware of the signs to look out for and the risks.
The City of London Police is at forefront of fighting this type of crime and offering the public advice on how to avoid falling victim.
The European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) study that estimated more than €2 billion is lost every year due to counterfeit tyres and batteries is available on the EUIPO website.
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