The latest annual edition of the Notorious Markets List of the US has highlighted IndiaMART, one of the largest Indian e-commerce websites, along with four physical marketplaces in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai.
USTR Releasing 2022 Notorious Markets List
Basically, this 2022 Notorious Markets List identifies 39 online and 33 physical markets that are reported to engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.
Here, USTR is an agency of the US government responsible for developing and promoting American trade policy.
The Indian markets in the list which was released by the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday include names like IndiaMART, Heera Panna in Mumbai, Kidderpore in Kolkata, Sadar Patrappa Road Market in Bengaluru, and Tank Road in Delhi.
Pirated Goods Harms Economic Security
Pouring more light on the subject, USTR Katherine Tai said, “The widespread trade in counterfeit and pirated goods harms the economic security of American workers and undermines our work to craft equitable and inclusive trade policy.”
Further adding, “The Notorious Markets List is an important tool that urges the private sector and our trading partners to take action against these harmful practices,”.
Inclusion Of IndiaMART
IndiaMART is a high-volume e-commerce website and mobile app that connects buyers with suppliers, as per the USTR report.
The website itself describes it as the largest online business-to-business marketplace in India.
In the past year, one right holder reported that IndiaMART has been cooperative in engagement and improving complaint response times in taking a positive step.
But, it can not be denied that the counterfeit goods on the e-commerce site, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and apparel, remain a serious concern for other rights holders, as per the USTR report.
Interestingly, this is disputed by the right holders adding that the e-commerce site adequately engaged with them and implemented anti-counterfeiting best practices, including seller verification, penalties against known sellers of counterfeit goods, or proactive monitoring for infringing goods.
Besides this, the assertion regarding the responsiveness of its notice-and-takedown system was also questioned.
Reportedly, a major indoor market in the heart of Mumbai, Heera Panna offers counterfeit watches, footwear, electronics, accessories, and cosmetics.
Further, the report stated that “Right holders warn that counterfeit cosmetics sold at this market have health and safety risks,”.
Another one, in Kolkata Locally known as the “Fancy Market”, Kidderpore has shops allegedly selling various counterfeit and pirated goods, including apparel, cosmetics, electronics, optical media, and software.
On the other side, Sadar Patrappa (SP) Road Market in Bengaluru is reported by right holders as a “hot spot” for a wide variety of counterfeit electronic products, attracting large numbers of locals and tourists according to the report.
The report mentioned that despite a raid on counterfeits in this market in early 2022, enforcement efforts by local authorities have been insufficient to encourage improvement in it.
First time, USTR identified notorious markets in the Special 301 Report in 2006.
In order to increase public awareness and help market operators and governments prioritize intellectual property enforcement efforts that protect American businesses and their workers, USTR has been publishing the Notorious Markets List annually since February 2011, separately from the Special 301 Report.
