FAKE BRANDED GOODS: RM15,000 fine
ALOR STAR: THE selling of replicas of branded items which has gained popularity in social networking portals such as Facebook is illegal.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Department's enforcement division deputy director Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman said action could be taken against those selling replica items under the Trade Description Act 2011 and they can be fined up to RM15,000 per replica.
"In most cases, the replicas sold online are not original and are fake items and the sellers were unauthorised dealers of the merchandise.
"If the product you are selling bears a name or logo, which was not made and endorsed by the manufacturer or retailer, then it can be considered as fake and illegal," he said here yesterday.
Iskandar said action against such online replica sellers could only be taken if the intellectual property rights holder lodges a report on the matter.
He said the department had no problem with the use of social network portals and the Internet to sell items, so long as only original products were sold.
"We understand that more people are going into online businesses as the operating costs are very minimal.
"A lot of people these days prefer online shopping as the merchandise are cheaper compared with items sold at retail outlets.
"With the growing number of online shoppers, it is important for online business owners to ensure that they sell only original goods."
A check on Ebay showed it would suspend account of users found selling unauthorised items and replicas.
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