Artificial intelligence has never been more powerful, constantly expanding its litany of flexes — from generating sonnets and fantastical images to believably mimicking emotions, all while churning through mountains of data faster than any human being could. But there’s one area where bots can’t still compete with humans: the capacity for greed and willingness to … Read more
As the European Union Commission continues to gather evidence for its formal proceedings to determine whether Temu may have breached the Digital Services Act, the fast-fashion giant has said it is in talks to join the EU’s “Memorandum of Understanding on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet.” Owned by the Chinese e-commerce giant … Read more
In a major crackdown on counterfeit goods, the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, in partnership with several crime-fighting agencies, seized fake products worth R15.5 million. This integrated operation took place in the Johannesburg CBD, targeting a shopping mall at the corner of Rahima Moosa and Von Wielligh Streets. Comprehensive operation nets large haul On Friday, 21 … Read more
Rob Holmes, a private investigator who tracks down fake luxury watch brands and ensures they do not hit the store shelves, explained how counterfeit Rolexes work and gets distributed. In an interview, Holmes delved into the creation of counterfeit goods in overseas factories. He exposed not only the production of fakes, but also explained how … Read more
The Commission will supervise the so-called very large online platform under threat of various regulatory curbs and potential fines of up to 6 percent of Shein’s global annual revenue. It joins more than 20 major platforms such as AliExpress, TikTok and Amazon that have already been designated as very large online platforms. Chinese e-commerce platform Temu … Read more
Amazon suggests that its fight against fakes has been so successful, fewer bad actors are even trying anymore. According to its Brand Protection Report for 2023, released early Tuesday morning, the company’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit blocked more than 700,000 suspicious attempts to create seller accounts, before “they were able to list a single product.” In … Read more
The South African Police Service (SAPS) have seized more than R30 million in fakes, according to government news. Counterfeit goods, including branded clothing, are big business for criminals – though sometimes crime really doesn’t pay off. A sting by the Counterfeit Unit uncovered millions worth of counterfeit items. The items were confiscated, and those selling … Read more
