The Notorious Markets List for 2021 has identified 42 online and 35 physical markets around the world. Those who are reported to be involved in substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright theft or to facilitate such. Three other Indian markets on the list include Mumbai’s Heera Panna, Kolkata’s Kidarpur and Delhi’s Tank Road.
US Trade Representative Catherine Tai said the global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods undermines vital American innovation and creativity and harms American workers. He added that this illegal trade also increases the vulnerability of workers involved in the manufacture of counterfeit goods to exploitative labor practices. Counterfeit goods can pose significant risks to the health and safety of consumers and workers around the world.
The USTR report said Indiamart, an e-commerce website and mobile app, connects buyers with suppliers and describes itself as the world’s second largest online business-to-business market. Fake pharmaceuticals, electronics and apparel and other counterfeit goods can reportedly be found in large quantities at Indiamart.
Right holders concerned about Indiamart’s failures of e-commerce website to adequately implement anti-counterfeiting best practices, including vendor verification, penalties against known sellers of counterfeit goods, or proactive monitoring of infringing goods Huh.
Indiamart apparently has a system of giving notices and accepting resignations, but right holders say it is cumbersome to use, the report said. The timing of taking resignations is slow and the status of the notice is not transparently communicated to the right holders.
USTR said ‘Heera Panna’, a major indoor market located in the heart of Mumbai, allegedly offers counterfeit watches, shoes, accessories and cosmetics. Right holders warn that counterfeit cosmetics sold in this market have health and safety risks. The raids on Heera Panna in September 2021 resulted in arrests for selling counterfeit versions of premium watches.
Similarly, Kolkata’s Kiddarpur market, which is locally known as a fancy market, reportedly often sells counterfeit apparel and cosmetics in bulk quantities. Serious skin problems, rashes, burns and eye ailments have been found due to poor quality of counterfeit products, the report said.
New Delhi-based Palika Bazar also remains in the Notorious Market List (NML) in 2021. This underground market in Delhi is known for trading counterfeit products, such as mobile accessories, cosmetics, watches and eyeglasses. Many of the buyers who visit here are reportedly students and other youth who want modern products at affordable prices. This market is also a popular destination for tourists, the report said.
Right holders’ report says that the sale of counterfeit products continues in Delhi’s Wholesale Tank Road market. Including apparel, footwear, watches, handbags, electronics and beauty products. The report said that wholesale counterfeit goods from this market are also supplied to other Indian markets including Ghaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road.
Right holders note that enforcement action at this location is challenging, as the market is located in a residential area and sellers often have prior knowledge of raids, limiting their effectiveness. The USTR is an agency of the US government responsible for developing and promoting US trade policy.