TENILLE BONOGUORE
Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008 11:57AM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 9:19PM EDT
'Tis the season to be walk past cheap knock offs and cough up for the real deal, according to two-thirds of Canadians.
An opinion poll conducted for the Canadian Intellectual Property Council has found the current economic slowdown is tugging at the conscience of some shoppers.
Given the state of the economy, two-thirds of the 2,014 people polled say it is now less justifiable to buy counterfeit goods because of the harm to manufacturers, retailers and employees.
But that means one-third of shoppers will still be finding excuses to pick up some not-quite-legit products.
More than one-quarter of people surveyed acknowledged having purchased counterfeit goods in the past: 19 per cent said they knowingly bought the imposter goods, while 9 per cent discovered later that they had been hoodwinked.
The most common counterfeit purchases were clothing, sunglasses, handbags and purses, movies, watches and music.
About two-thirds of those who bought knock-off goods said they would be willing to buy the genuine item if a counterfeit version were not available.
”This indicates that anti-counterfeiting measures would strengthen the legitimate economy by driving business to legal manufacturers, distributors and retailers,” said Bob Weese, chairman of the Canadian Intellectual Property Council and vice-president of GE Canada.
The RCMP estimates that counterfeiting leaks billions of dollars out of the legitimate Canadian economy.
The Environics Research survey found 73 per cent of respondents would support a political party that imposes laws and enforcement against counterfeiting, and 63 per cent want tougher measures if organized crime is involved.
”With rising concerns over job losses and the economy, Canadians want action on issues that could threaten their livelihoods, and that includes measures against counterfeiting,” Mr. Weese said.
The CIPC paraded a collection of seized counterfeit goods in Toronto on Wednesday, including counterfeit drugs, toys and extension cords.
The survey is accurate to plus or minus 2.18 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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