This Article first published in The Journal Record - February 11, 2010.

Prada bag on eBay: $155. Same Prada bag on Prada Web site? $1,200. Rolex watch: $345 on eBay. Same watch on Rolex site? $14,700. Maybe the eBay sellers are trying to clean out closets and turn some unwanted items into cash, but, more likely, those are fakes. According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, counterfeiting has increased more than 10,000 percent in the last 20 years. Counterfeiting is the use of an identical but unauthorized trademark on the same type of goods the trademark owner normally sells, such as a Burberry plaid scarf made by someone other than Burberry.

Article authored by McAfee & Taft attorney: Rachel Blue.