tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post5303901050555910215..comments2024-03-29T06:53:23.405+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Is counterfeiting a real problem -- or a fake one? Two more responsesVerónica RodrÃguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-57550841549650515922013-11-20T10:55:42.896+00:002013-11-20T10:55:42.896+00:00Can I add a comment to this (as an individual and ...Can I add a comment to this (as an individual and not anything to do with Pillsbury - the attribution was mistaken)?<br /><br />I adumbrated my comments at a follow up meeting hosted by FLAG at which I made these comments:- (1) I entirely accept the "madness to disclose statistics" argument - we should stop saying that the problem is statistics (I found the blog comments enlightening), (2) that even small scale counterfeiting can be seriously problematic and can cause massive tarnishment and damage (I have always accepted this), (3) I am not downplaying quality issues, health and safety or product safety - they are serious matters; all I was saying (or was attempting to say) was that in my experience those issues disappear in counterfeiting cases by the time one gets to trial - tarnishment and dilution can and does happen even if the goods are of equal or (dare I say it) better quality (though a case where the latter has happened has eluded my practice ... so far). AshleyAshley Roughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11867564640201688641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1283324664897538342013-11-07T11:32:10.910+00:002013-11-07T11:32:10.910+00:00We economists like to quantify not just for the sa...We economists like to quantify not just for the sake of quantification but in order to guide policy. While it is true that selling fakes is morally wrong regardless of how much of it takes place, surely public policy must be based on something more than this simple assertion. After all, resources are limited, including resources to fight various types of crime, of which IP infringement is only one of many. When policymakers have to decide how many resources to devote to a particular problem, surely it is of relevance to have an idea of how widespread the problem is compared to other issues that might be addressed with the same resources. Economics is precisely about that: helping society make the best out of limited resources. And yes, I am afrait that this requires reliable and objective numbers.Nathan Wajsmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-19498510278822950162013-11-06T13:10:34.955+00:002013-11-06T13:10:34.955+00:00To your last question, I would answer a simple &qu...To your last question, I would answer a simple "yes".<br /><br />However...<br /><br />There is a glamour' factor 'at work. ' What grabs attention and what soundbytes can be used (and used for), that are now in play.<br /><br />Welcome to the land of the political.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com