3 Review(s)

Counterfeiting is one of the fastest growing industries in the world - it is a market worth more than $ 500 billion, or 7 per cent of the world’s trade. In this compelling account, Knockoff exposes the truth behind the fakes and uncovers the shocking consequences of dealing in counterfeit goods. Travelling across the globe, Tim Phillips shows that counterfeiting isn’t a victimless crime; it is an illegal global industry undermining the world’s economies. Based on interviews with victims, investigators and the people who sell counterfeits, Knockoff reveals the link between what we see as “innocent” fakes and organized crime. Phillips describes in detail how the counterfeiters’ criminal network costs jobs, cripples developing countries, breeds corruption and violence and kills thousands of people every year. He shows that by turning a blind eye to the problem, we become accomplices to theft, extortion and murder. This disturbing book will make you squirm in your seat if you’ve ever purchased counterfeit goods About The Author Tim Phillips is a well-known business journalist and broadcaster who has been published in the Wall Street Journal Europe. the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian and the Observer, and regularly appears on BBC TV and Radio and Sky News. His books include Scoring Points, also published by Kogan Page. Table of Contents Introduction: The knockoff economy PART 1: ANYTING UNDER THE SUN: The second-oldest profession Brand bandits Counterfeit Alley Sex and the purse party PART 2: INSIDE THE KNOCKOFF ECONOMY Copying is a beautiful thing A greater Europe I thought I had seen everything Where buyers and sellers meet War and peace PART 3: YOU CANT’T COMPETE WITH FREE: Illusions Lifting the stone Ordinary criminals Turning guns into CD burners Making a scene From Russia with windows PART 4: COUNTERFEIT KILLERS: The capital of bogus parts Under the hood Show us the dead bodies Men in white coats Dora Akunyili must not die Conclusion: Whack a mole Appendix Index