AAFA supports educational campaign against counterfeits
The president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Kevin M. Burke, has welcomed the launch of a campaign by the Obama Administration aimed at educating people in the US about the harm that counterfeit goods have on the country’s economy.
“Each year, the US government seizes more counterfeit footwear, apparel, and fashion accessories like handbags than any other consumer goods,” he said. “Whether we are working with our trading partners to prevent the shipment of fake goods, ensuring the US government has the tools it needs to enforce intellectual property rights, or educating consumers who purchase goods about what is real and what is not, the US apparel and footwear industry has long understood that the problem of counterfeiting is a challenge that must be fought on a variety of levels.
“I firmly believe that if we educate consumers about the economic and public health risks of purchasing fake goods, we can significantly reduce the public desire for counterfeit products. The US apparel and footwear industry looks forward to working with the Obama Administration and congressional leadership in fighting the scourge of counterfeiting on all fronts.”
