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19 January 2016Copyright

UKIPO publishes report on UK ‘counterfeit street’

An area in Manchester has been nicknamed ‘counterfeit street’ because of the amount of fake goods sold there, according to a report by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

In a report published today, January 19, called "Counting the cost, the trade of counterfeit goods in Manchester", the IPO said that Cheetham Hill, an area in the city, is regularly referred to by rights owners as ‘counterfeit street’.

Traders in the area reportedly sell counterfeit electronic items, fragrances, jewellery, footwear, and designer clothes that imitate brands including Louis Vuitton and Nike.

All the items are sold well below the recommended retail price, according to the IPO.

In 2013 customs officers and local councils seized fakes with a street value of more than £1 million ($1.4 million) from the area.

The IPO, along with local law enforcement and right owners, is aiming to tackle counterfeit crime in Cheetham Hill.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, minister for IP, said that the report signals the start of a “concerted effort to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups”.

“Thanks to the ever increasing partnership between government departments, industry, and law enforcement we are leaving fewer and fewer places for criminals to hide,” she added.

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