Draft regulation ensures market order by eliminating extorters

Xiamen Customs seized 21,648 fake 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil jerseys on April 9. It was the first copyright infringement case to occur in Xiamen since the General Administration of Customs launched a campaign fighting IP infringement related to the World Cup. [Pu Yunru /for China Daily]

CHINA'S STATE ADMINISTRATION for Industry and Commerce has released a draft regulation based on the country's consumer protection law, which aims to crack down on those who extort "compensation" by threatening to bring to court producers and dealers of shoddy goods. Such people actually disturb market order, Beijing Times commented on Monday:

Previously, some people have sued and challenged companies that sold counterfeit products, in order to defend their rights as customers. The new regulation, which is expected to come into effect soon, does not mean that consumers' legal interests and anti-counterfeiting efforts are to be ignored or dismissed.

The aim of the draft regulation is to get rid of those who have made blackmailing sellers or producers a business, by threatening to sue them in exchange for illegal profit. In doing so, true victims of copycat products will be better protected and compensated in accordance with relevant laws.

Those anti-counterfeiting fighters who do not seek to exploit legal loopholes for illicit profit should be rewarded and encouraged to work for certain non-governmental organizations. Legislators have every reason to support them to play a bigger role in their fight for consumers' rights, and make sure they do not have to work under the radar any more.

There is no need to challenge the new regulation. Just a few years ago, some even accused the fight against fake goods sold on e-commerce platforms of dealing a blow to entrepreneurship. But legislators are taking the latest anti-counterfeiting concerns seriously and responding to them in a timely manner.