Draft regulation ensures market order by eliminating extorters

CHINA’S STATE ADMINISTRATION for Industry and Commerce has released a draft regulation based on the country’s consumer protection law, which aims to crack down on those who extort “compensation” by threatening to bring to court producers and dealers of shoddy goods. Such people actually disturb market order, Beijing Times commented onMonday:

Previously, some people have sued and challenged companies that sold counterfeit products, in order to defend their rights as customers. The newregulation, which is expected to come into effect soon, does not mean that consumers’ legal interests and anti-counterfeiting efforts are to be ignored or dismissed.

The aim of the draft regulation is to get rid of those who have made blackmailing sellers or producers a business, by threatening to sue them in exchange for illegal profit. In doing so, true victims of copycat products will be better protected and compensated in accordance with relevant laws.

Those anti-counterfeiting fighters who do not seek to exploit legal loopholes for illicit profit should be rewarded and encouraged to work for certain non-governmental organizations. Legislators have every reason to support them to play a bigger role in their fight for consumers’ rights, and make sure they do not have to work under the radar any more.

There is no need to challenge the new regulation. Just a few years ago, some even accused the fight against fake goods sold on e-commerce platforms of dealing a blow to entrepreneurship. But legislators are taking the latest anti-counterfeiting concerns seriously and responding to them in a timely manner.