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How is this much different from what is done with other counterfeit goods[1-4]? Is it because they aren't going through legal channels to do it? But these all are counterfeit, so the end result is the same, right? When counterfeit goods are found, they are seized and destroyed. I can see people getting upset about this, but I'm surprised at the unanimous response to it.

[1]Car bodies: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/mercedes-and-daimler-cr...

[2]Guitars: http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/bits/feds-seize-over-185-c...

[3]Carrying bags: http://www.hamm.eu/en/aktuelles-und-presse/news/2009/2009-04...

[4]Clothing: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/nyregion/trademark-trumps-...




[EDIT: redacted unnecessary aspersion.] In none of the links you provide are authorities taking or destroying property that consumers already bought. Rather, they're taking property from distributors who theoretically could have known better than to purchase the "counterfeits" in the first place. Can you think of any interesting way that LEOs taking property from distributors is similar to a private party destroying the property of consumers?


It was an honest question, and that's the kind of answer I was looking for. So maybe once it's been sold nothing can be done about it(unlike stolen goods, which is obviously a different case).

edit: According to a professor at the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University, buying counterfeit goods is only illegal in France and Italy[1]. US customs even allow people to knowingly bring one counterfeit good into the country.

[1] http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/the-legality-of-bu...




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