261 domains shut down in
Belgium
In total, 261 domains are no longer available in Belgium. Consumers that
still visit these sites will get an
informational page explaining the nature and result of this internationally
coordinated operation against counterfeit products.
With this move, Customs want to maintain the economic
value of both consumers and honest enterprises. “The websites that were
shut down offered both counterfeit and real products, which was unfair competition for legitimate
businesses”, the ministry for the Economy has stated.
“They also threatened to severely
damage consumer rights, as they will not only get items seized by customs, but
will also be charged for their destruction.” Plenty of these blocked sites do not clearly
identify the retailer, “which is an obligation”.
International operation
The large-scale operation was part of the “In Our sites – Transatlantic III” operation, coordinated by
Europol. Belgian customs also passed on 74 .com domains to the United States
government, that mainly sold counterfeit clothes and
medicine.
“Customs and the organization against counterfeit continuously point to
the dangers of counterfeit. It severely damages our economy and causes plenty of people to lose their job. Also, ”when looking at counterfeit
medicine, there are additional health risks, the ministry for the Economy added.
328 domains were shutdown worldwide
in a similar operation during the summer, 79 of which were .be and .eu addresses.
(Translated by Gary Peeters)
