Duplicate products have free run as leading companies hesitate to file plaints

The special crime wing of the Tamil Nadu police, which deals with intellectual property violation, drugs and video piracy had raided several areas in Coimbatore on Monday and had seized duplicate products of wellknown Indian and foreign brands. What comes as the main stumbling block in busting the duplicate product market is the reluctance of multi-national companies to lodge complaints with the police. The companies use their own internal mechanism to fight such duplication as they fear that publicity attached to police action could affect their brand value. 

The police conducted meetings with the representatives of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and requested them to lodge complaints as and when they come across duplication of their products in the market. “The companies do not want the public to know that duplicates of their products are being sold in the market. Companies fear that customers may refrain from buying their products due to doubts regarding the authenticity of the products,” a police official attached to the crime wing told DTNext. 

Most of the vendors, who were picked up by the crime wing for selling duplicate products, told the investigators that they had procured the items from Mumbai and Delhi. Some products like engine oils and lubricants of famous brands were manufactured locally in the state, sources said. “These products are being sourced from Mumbai and Delhi. We still do not know whether these products are manufactured in India or procured from foreign countries. We have passed on the information regarding the suppliers to our counterparts in the respective states,” the official added. 

Apart from the revenue loss suffered by major multi-national firms, such duplicate products are a safety hazard to unsuspecting consumers. “Those who buy these products believe in brand value and are ready to pay extra money. Many harmful chemicals are used in duplicate products and they can cause serious health issues when consumed. The sales of duplicate products need to be checked,” the official added.