Turkey passes new legislation to fight fake goods

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

The Turkish parliament has passed new legislation on industrial property rights on Dec. 21, aiming to take action against counterfeit products. 

The new legislation will introduce new prison terms and fines for those convicted of marketing counterfeit goods.       
Prison terms for those who infringe a trademark by producing or selling fake goods or services will range from one year to three years. Fines will be imposed for prison terms that are less than 21 days.        

Last April, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office announced that imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion U.S. dollars a year and around 2.5 percent of global imports.        

U.S., Italian and French brands are among those hit hardest by counterfeiting.