The American Consumer Institute today announced the results of a survey illustrating that a vast majority of American consumers support stronger protection against websites trafficking pirated and counterfeit goods.

The survey of 800 consumers found that 82 percent agreed that counterfeit goods, such as knock-off products, pirated software and imitation pharmaceuticals hurt the economy. Consumers also expressed support for increasing criminal penalties to protect against the sale of counterfeit goods:

• 80 percent support increasing criminal penalties for anyone who knowingly sells counterfeit goods, equipment and parts to the U.S. military;

• 81 percent support increasing criminal penalties for anyone who knowingly sells counterfeit drugs and medicines to Americans online; and

• 79 percent support blocking foreign-based Internet websites from trafficking counterfeit goods, content or services to Americans.

Apparently, when scare tactics are removed from the discussion, the U.S. public largely supports the goals of legislation targeting foreign rogue websites marketing unlicensed, unregulated and unsafe products to American consumers.

While some would like to portray this debate as being about big media and big tech, the fact is that American consumers have much at stake in this discussion. This is why organizations like the Better Business Bureau and the National Consumers League support efforts to crack down on rogue websites.

As this survey reveals, consumers aren’t interested in fake drugs, knock-off products, lost jobs, or rogue websites either. It’s time to focus debate on the problem and the facts, and to offer constructive solutions that will benefit us all.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 12:49 pm by Sandra Aistars and is filed under FACTS, counterfeit, economy, internet, jobs, piracy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.