Saturday, November 03, 2007 Trademarks as quality indicators By Clint Fabiosa & Andrew Ong I protect
SOME forms of trademarks have been around for thousands of years. Visitors to the Great Wall of China can still see the original producer’s mark on some of its bricks.
This mark allows the emperors of that time to be assured of the quality and, if needed, accountability of the product being used.
The assurance of quality and accountability is completely lost when counterfeiters illegally use a trademark and deceive consumers with their goods. When many people think of counterfeit goods, they might bring to mind items such as fake Rolex watches, Zippo lighters, or Louis Vuitton handbags. The counterfeiting of these goods inflict serious harm on legitimate companies and deprives governments of revenues.
Trademarks are indicators of quality. They inform the consumers where to seek recourse if the product fails. The use of counterfeits deprives the consumers of quality and the venue to seek recourse in case the product breaks down or is destroyed.
