Fie on fakes

“Fakery in the Bag” [by Mimi Avins, Dec. 4] neglects to include critical information about the detrimental impact of counterfeiting on the economy and our society at large. In addition to depriving governments of billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, counterfeiters are notorious for employing child labor and denying workers health benefits and pensions. Further, the sale of counterfeit goods is a known source of funding for organized crime and terrorist activity.

Thankfully, this has not escaped the law enforcement authorities. Counterfeiting is considered a serious crime in the U.S., punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to $2 million.

Given this, I am gravely disappointed that a publication like the Los Angeles Times would instruct its readers about how to purchase counterfeit goods, even going so far as to shamelessly promote dozens of websites, fly-by-night stores and street vendors. Certainly, you would not feature an article that provided similar information about how to circumvent copyright laws of newspapers.

Emmanuel Barbault

New York

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Barbault is head of anticounterfeiting for the Americas in the Intellectual Property Department of the LVMH Fashion Group.