Counterfeiting is an illegal activity that continues to boom in the 21st century. Many research studies regarding counterfeiting undertaken in the past have had a strong focus on the supply side of the industry, whereas few studies look to consumer demand and even fewer towards consumer demand for counterfeit products in an emerging African market. The aim of this research study, therefore, was to provide a descriptive analysis of the South African consumers‟ intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus counterfeit products and secondly, to examine if various demographic groupings differ in their purchase intentions. In order to achieve the research objective, an extensive literary review was conducted on the global counterfeit problem with specific focus on the South African counterfeit industry. The concept and value of branding was highlighted, followed by a discussion on consumer behaviour in conjunction with the decision-making process and the consumers‟ intention to purchase. An empirical study was conducted with UNISA students residing within the areas of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape through a mixed method approach. Qualitative research formed the first leg of the study and assisted in identifying past purchase behaviour of authentic and counterfeit luxury fashion brands. Once identified, these brands were then utilised in a quantitative survey to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that South African consumers‟ have a high intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus a low intention to purchase counterfeit products. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

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在這多元化社會，資訊及科技的高度發展除了帶給全民便利以及更充足完整的資訊外，卻也帶來了侵權與犯罪。本文根據王智賢與楊敦雅 (2008) 一文做進一步的延伸，採用 Grossman and Helpman (1994) 的菜單式拍賣模型，探討當智慧財產權等無形資產為外國正版商所擁有時，外國正版廠商、國內仿冒商，以及國內部份消費者所組成的團體，三者的利益分配相互衝突時，本國政府將如何制定國內的仿冒查緝率。此外，我們將模型設定了外生變數查緝率下限以盼能更貼近現實社會，透過本研究我們可以發現在增加查緝率下限後，雙方共同遊說之下均衡查緝率可能由原先的零大幅提高至仿冒商品剛好可以生存的門檻，並且在均衡時只會有一方願意提供給本國政府政治獻金。 / In this multiple society, although highly developing information and technology not only make all the people more convenient but also earn more sufficient information, it has brought the tort and crime as well. In this essay, we extend the essay written by Jue-Shyan Wang & Tun-Ya Yang (2008) and adapt a simple framework based on the Menu-auction Model of Grossman and Helpman (1994). Discussing about how a domestic government decides optimal enforcement rate of counterfeit when intellectual property is held by a foreign company and foreign company、domestic consumers and domestic illegally copied company had a conflict between their benefit distribution. Furthermore, we are going to add a lower bound of enforcement rate as an external variable to close reality. After this study, we found that under the lobby of both foreign company and domestic consumers, the equilibrium of enforcement rate may change from zero to the entry barrier; what’s more, only one of the sides will be willing to pay political contributions to domestic government under equilibrium.

Reverse engineering - defined as extracting information about a product from the product itself - is a design tactic commonly used in industry from competitive benchmarking to product imitation. While reverse engineering is a legitimate practice - as long as the product was legally obtained - innovative products are often reverse engineered at the expense of the pioneering company. However, by designing products with built-in barriers to reverse engineering, competitors are no longer able to effectively extract critical information from the product of interest. Enabling the quantification of barriers to reverse engineering, this dissertation presents a set of metrics and parameters that can be used to calculate the barrier to reverse engineer any product as well as the time required to do so. To the original designer, these numerical representations of the barrier and time can be used to strategically identify and improve product characteristics so as to increase the difficulty and time to reverse engineer them. On the other hand, these quantitative measures enable competitors who reverse engineer original designs to focus their efforts on products that will result in the greatest return on investment. In addition to metrics that estimate the reverse engineering barrier and time, this dissertation also presents a methodology to strategically plan for, select, design, and implement reverse engineering barriers. The methodology presented herein considers barrier development cost, barrier effectiveness in various product components, impact on performance, and return on investment. This process includes sensitivity analysis, modeling of the return on investment, and exploration of multiobjective design spaces. The effectiveness of the presented methodology is demonstrated by making a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle difficult to reverse engineer. In the example, the propeller is selected to be the critical component where a series of voids are introduced to decrease the propeller weight and increase the flutter speed (a desirable attribute in propellers). Our tenet is that the use of such a framework contributes greatly to the sustainability of technological, economical, and security advantages enjoyed by those who developed the technology. Designers benefit because (i) products do not readily disclose trade secrets, (ii) competitive advantages can be maintained by impeding competitors from reverse engineering and imitating innovative products, and (iii) the return on investment can be increased.

Purchasing counterfeited luxury products and downloading pirated items have becomemore common nowadays. Fashion and IT industries are affected negatively by consumers’supportive attitude towards piracy and counterfeits. Many luxury branded companies havetheir exclusive brand names stolen by counterfeits producers. Likewise producers ofcomputer software, music, and movies are affected by individuals who download/streamtheir items for free. Consumers’ attitudes towards counterfeiting and piracy are importantto examine as to understand their acceptance and rejection towards counterfeits and piracy.The purpose of this thesis is to examine consumers’ attitudes towards counterfeits andpiracy. What is accepted and rejected by consumers? To answer the research questions, aqualitative method is used. The data is collected through semi-structured interviews with12 consumers of both/either counterfeits and piracy. The study is performed in Skåne(Scania), Sweden, mainly in Malmö, Perstorp and Kristianstad.We implemented the Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Moral Reasoning, ConsumerTheory and different attitudes for analysing the empirical presentation. The result of thestudy showed that the interviewees had a more accepting attitude towards piracy while themajority of them had a rejecting attitude towards counterfeits. Due to the fact thatcomputer and IT have become a part of the everyday life for many individuals. However,the interviewees who buy counterfeits consume the items while they are on vacationabroad since the supply of counterfeits in the Swedish market is not very big. When itcame to piracy and counterfeited products, the age of the interviewees did matter to someextent. Also, price was one important element why consumers are interested in counterfeitsor download piracy.This study contributes to fill the gap in the lack of studies of consumers’ attitudes towardsboth piracy and counterfeits. The conclusions can be used as a guideline and tool forcompanies to be aware of consumers’ attitudes towards illicit products. Keywords: Counterfeit products, Piracy, Consumer attitude, Physical products, Digitalproducts, Luxury brands, Genuine luxury brand, Illicit forged products

The use of technology in business process is gaining much attention, and many businesses today rely on technology as an important part of an efficient and effective way of meeting customers’ satisfaction. This study deals with the adoption of a proper and electronic means of tracking counterfeit drugs in the supply chain (distribution network) through the use of RFID technology. The case of the Ghanaian pharmaceutical group KAMA is considered. The main objective consists in finding out how the adoption of RFID technology would help tracking counterfeit drugs in the supply chain of this company and which benefits this could generate. Three research questions are stated and a qualitative approach is adopted. Field observation, a series of interviews with management and field workers of Kama as well as a questionnaire allowed collecting the data. The analysis of the data showed that RFID technology should be adopted by Kama to replace the present costly and relatively inefficient way of tracking counterfeit drugs. The motivation of workers to be trained on RFID as well as the company readiness to train employees represent major factors for adoption and implementation of RFID to track counterfeit drugs and hence contribute to increase the profit margin and improve Kama’s image on the market. Recommendations are finally made on the methodology to be adopted by Kama to implement and use RFID technology to track counterfeit drugs. / <p>Validerat; 20111202 (anonymous)</p>

This research explores the international and national (such as Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and the OAPI region) standards of trademark law as well as the international rules promoting free flow of goods and how these two legal systems safeguard the consumers’ right to health. Focuses on the following two specific aspects of trademark law: counterfeiting which includes infringement, and licensing of a trademark in relation to consumers’ protection. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr Atangcho N Akonumbo Senior Lecturer, Catholic University Yaounde, Cameroon. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

This Thesis examines the benefits and usefulness of a National Drug Policy (NDP) for the developing of the Health Care System in Kuwait. The NDP is one of the most important structures of the Health System which can lead to improved health services by establishing guidelines, proposals and directives to organize, structure and regulate health legislation; it is of help to ensure the availability of quality, safety and efficacy in using medicines and it can reduce the irrational use of medicines. The NDP is a frame work between the government, schools and universities, media, health professionals, pharmaceutical industries and companies and public. It is cooperation between the public and private sectors to achieve the goal of access to good quality medicines for all. However there are many key factors which need to be examined before the National Drug Policy is introduced and these are considered the baseline for establishing a good policy, and includes; selection of essential drugs, affordability of drugs, drug financing, supply management, drug regulation, rational use of drugs, drugs registration, purchasing of drugs, health research and human resource development. During this research study from 2012 – 2015 several visits to the public and private health areas, were undertaken. At this time there were discussions with 121 health professionals and data was collected and this indicated that in Kuwait there are no such policies. This is despite the availability of financial means, specialized human resources and the existence of the ministerial decisions and regulations governing the health sector in both public and private, whether hospitals, health centers, pharmacies and health departments. In addition it is suggested that the process of a good NDP should be built around 3 main components which includes: 1.Development, 2. Implementation and 3. Monitoring and Evaluation. Therefore the establishing of a NDP without implementation and monitoring is not enough and does not achieve the desired results. The aim of this Thesis is to establish a NDP in the State of Kuwait. This policy is necessary for the State of Kuwait to ensure development an improvement of the Health Care System and ensure better health for population.

Denna studie utforskar faktorer som påverkar Svenska konsumenters beslutsfattande vid konsumtion av plagiatprodukter. Förfalskade produkter är imitationer av populära märken som erbjuds till betydligt lägre priser än originalprodukterna. Syftet med studien var att få en djupare förståelse för de faktorer som påverkar konsumenternas beslut att välja förfalskade produkter. Forskarna använde sig av en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och genomförde intervjuer med nio respondenter i åldern 21-27 år. Alla deltagare var svenska medborgare och bosatta i Sverige. Genom tematisk analys undersöktes och analyserades den insamlade datan för att identifiera faktorer som påverkar konsumenternas val av plagiatprodukter. Resultaten av studien identifierade fem huvudsakliga faktorer som påverkade konsumenternas val av plagiatprodukter: pris, kvalitet , sociala aspekter, etiska och tillgänglighet. Pris var den mest framkommande faktor och var den främsta drivkraften bakom beslutsfattandet. Alla respondenter valde plagiatprodukter på grund av det betydligt lägre priset jämfört med äkta lyxvaror. Sammanfattningsvis visar denna studie att priset, kvaliteten och sociala faktorer spelar en viktig roll i konsumenternas val av plagiatprodukter istället för äkta lyxvaror i Sverige. Medan faktorer som etik och tillgänglighet spelade en mindre betydelsefull roll i köpbeteendet. Det lägre priset är den främsta anledningen till att många konsumenter väljer plagiatprodukter, medan vissa även tar hänsyn till kvaliteten och de sociala aspekterna i sitt beslutsfattande. Studien visade också hur svenska konsumenter har mer gemensamt med västländer vad gäller faktorer än östländer. Denna forskning ger insikt i konsumentbeteendet kring plagiatprodukter och kan vara användbar för företag och marknadsförare som vill förstå och nå denna specifika målgrupp. / This study explores factors that influence Swedish consumers' decision-making when consuming plagiarized products. Counterfeit products are imitations of popular brands offered at significantly lower prices than the original products. The purpose of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence consumers' decisions to choose counterfeit products. The researchers used a qualitative research method and conducted interviews with nine respondents aged 21-27. All participants were Swedish citizens and resident in Sweden. Through thematic analysis, the collected data was examined and analyzed to identify factors that influence consumers' choice of plagiarized products. The study's findings identified five main factors influencing consumers' choices of counterfeit products: price, quality, social aspects, ethical and availability. Price was a factor mentioned in all cases and was the primary driving force behind the decision-making process. All respondents opted for counterfeit products due to their significantly lower prices compared to authentic luxury goods. In summary, this study demonstrates that price, quality, and social factors play significant roles in consumers' choices of counterfeit products instead of authentic luxury goods in Sweden. While factors such as ethical and availability played a lesser significant role in the purchasing behaviour. The lower price is the primary reason why many consumers opt for counterfeit products, while some also consider the quality and social aspects in their decision- making process. The study also learned that Swedish consumers have more in common with western countries in terms of factors than eastern countries This research provides insights into consumer behavior regarding counterfeit products and can be valuable for companies and marketers seeking to understand and reach this specific target audience.

Présente depuis le temps des Romains, et bien au-delà des simples «articles de Paris», la contrefaçon s’est introduite dans tous les domaines de fabrication. L’objectif de cette recherche est de déterminer quelles peuvent être les raisons et les motivations qui poussent un groupe d’immigrants à se spécialiser dans la vente de contrefaçon d’objet de luxe. Pour y répondre, nous proposons de suivre deux hypothèses. D'une part, le contexte politicoéconomique international est constitué de telle sorte qu'il favorise un groupe restreint de pays et limite en contrepartie les débouchés à bon nombre de pays en développement. Les pays développés modulent, ou font pression sur les organisations internationales à leur image afin d'en tirer davantage de bénéfices, et souvent au détriment des pays en développement. Et d'autre part, à l'intérieur de ces populations en mouvement, certains individus font le choix (inévitable ou stratégique) de se cantonner dans un commerce de la rue, parfois illégal, comme c'est le cas de la vente d'objet de luxe contrefait. D’un autre côté, l’adhésion d’un individu à un commerce illégal ne peut lui être totalement imposée par des forces extérieures. Ainsi, il est démontré dans ce travail, que la vente de contrefaçon répond aux particularités et aux exigences de certains individus: statut d’immigrants illégaux, peu ou pas d’expérience de travail compatible avec le pays d’accueil, travail sans contraintes d’horaire, travail à l’extérieur et, surtout, favorisant la vie sociale. / Present since Roman Empire, and that well beyond the simple "articles de Paris", counterfeiting has been introduced in all areas of manufacturing. The objective of this research is to determine what are the reasons and motivations for an immigrant group to specialize in selling counterfeiting luxury. To answer this, we propose two hypotheses. On the one hand, the international politico-economic context is such that it favors a small group of countries and limits, in return, the opportunities of in many countries in development. Developed countries modulate, or lobby, international organizations according to their values and they want to draw the greatest benefits. Often, these benefits are harmful to the others. Secondly, within moving populations, some people are choosing (inevitably or strategically) to confine themselves in a street trade, sometimes illegal, as is the case of the counterfeiting luxury’s selling. On the other hand, illegal trade cannot be fully imposed to individuals by external forces. Thus, it is shown in this work that the sale of counterfeit features meets some expectations and constraints of sellers: illegal immigrant status, no job experience in the host country, no schedule constraints, working outside and, especially, promoting social life jobs.