08-08-2013, 06:20 PM
The Chinese are experts at replication, like Japan used to be before they moved to innovation. The US (IDK about the UK and other "innovative" countries) makes it much easier for replicators to succeed by publishing so much scientific and technical data and specs.
"Made in China", not just the legal products, but also bootleg videos, etc... When it comes to drugs, the black market goes way beyond the illegal ones - knock-offs of pharmaceuticals is big biz.
Yesterday, I read about a bust by the US Justice Dept of two men in Chicago who were selling $4 million worth of counterfeit Viagra. Kind of an old game, at this point.
Viagra and Lipitor have both been replicated and sold over the internet by Chinese counterfeiters since 2006. Several rings have been busted, but I understand that it's highly profitable for those in the game.
Pfizer ain't happy about it, obviously, and has an internal team working to scope out these fraudulent producers/distributors, and to coordinate with US Justice Dept authorities and their Chinese counterparts in attempts to minimize intellectual property infringement. Big job and a never-ending cycle.
"Made in China", not just the legal products, but also bootleg videos, etc... When it comes to drugs, the black market goes way beyond the illegal ones - knock-offs of pharmaceuticals is big biz.
Yesterday, I read about a bust by the US Justice Dept of two men in Chicago who were selling $4 million worth of counterfeit Viagra. Kind of an old game, at this point.
Viagra and Lipitor have both been replicated and sold over the internet by Chinese counterfeiters since 2006. Several rings have been busted, but I understand that it's highly profitable for those in the game.
Pfizer ain't happy about it, obviously, and has an internal team working to scope out these fraudulent producers/distributors, and to coordinate with US Justice Dept authorities and their Chinese counterparts in attempts to minimize intellectual property infringement. Big job and a never-ending cycle.