For many, visiting Petaling Street aka Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur is an experience of food, culture and business.
But, what we might have forgotten or overlooked is the fact that the market is a haven for counterfeit products.
The United States Trade Representative have released their 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, and guess what? Of course, Petaling Street is included.
“Petaling Street Market is a well-known market in Kuala Lumpur that sells large volumes of counterfeit items, including watches, shoes, handbags, wallets, sunglasses, and other consumer goods,”
“Although the market activity has not returned to pre-pandemic levels because foreign tourism remains depressed, the majority of goods that are currently available appear to be counterfeit,” they wrote in the report.
The United States Trade Representative also shared that right holders (those who have exclusive rights to a protected copyright, trademark or patent) have found it difficult to work with the Malaysian authorities to have the counterfeit businesses terminated.
“Local authorities are not proactive in conducting enforcement activity without right holders’ initiative. Even when right holders try to initiate enforcement activities, they report difficulties due to local favouritism and the involvement of organised crime at this market,”
“Local authorities are reportedly responsive to right holder complaints only after substantial efforts from the right holders. Specifically, right holders are often required to present substantial evidence prior to authorities agreeing to act,” they added.
What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
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