The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued new guidance as part of a Government and industry campaign warning consumers of the serious dangers of fake car parts.
The number of fake vehicle parts available on the market is dramatically increasing, with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimating that the amount of money lost every year to counterfeit tyres and batteries alone is around €2 billion.
Filters, brake pads, lights, wheel rims and airbags are amongst the most common fake vehicle parts and many of these parts have direct safety implications which can cause serious accidents if they fail.
Many of these fakes are hard to spot and often look identical to real products.
In a bid to help combat this problem, the IPO, along with other Government departments has joined forces with the auto industry and trading platforms to warn consumers about the dangers of these fake vehicle parts. The collaboration has led to the new guidance from the IPO, which gives tips on how to avoid buying fake parts when shopping.
The collaboration includes a host of organisations including Audi, BMW, Amazon, eBay, Trading Standards, Philips Automotive and many more.
Dr. Ros Lynch, Director of Copyright and Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office said: “It’s clear counterfeit vehicle parts can pose a serious risk to drivers, passengers and other road users, with potentially life-threatening results.
“We are committed to protecting the public from these dangers. This collaboration between Government, industry and law enforcement offers us an opportunity to raise awareness, change consumer behaviour and remove these dangerous products from the market.”