A new campaign designed to crack down on the sale of counterfeit goods online this Easter has been launched by The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), Facebook and the UK Intellectual Property Office. Operation CLOVER will take down online traders of counterfeit products, which are impacting ACG member brands and misleading consumers. 

“Traders in counterfeit goods are using prestigious brand names to sell illicit and potentially dangerous products online,” said Phil Lewis, the group’s Director General.

“Despite the easing of restrictions, COVID19 continues to have a profound effect on the retail sector. With many shops still closed, shoppers have instead gone online to buy their gifts, and sellers have jumped in to meet that demand. Disreputable sellers are trading from their homes and garages, selling fake items bearing well established global brand names, including potentially unsafe electrical goods, toys, cosmetics, perfume, clothing, trainers and handbags.”

ACG has been working with Facebook to remove listings of potentially counterfeit goods, which are "likely to be poorly made, poorly finished and more likely to be unsafe."

More information about how Facebook protects intellectual property can be found in this anti-counterfeiting guide in its Business Help Center.