WHO COMMITS OFFENCES?
Criminal offences under the legislation in general cover all stages from manufacture, distribution and supply by retail of offending items. Offences under:- a) Copyright legislation specifically prohibits: importation of infringement copies, and manufacture and/or possession of articles used in their production (eg equipment, printing plates, etc) b) Trade marks legislation specifically prohibits: illegal application of trade marks to packaging and labelling materials, and business paperwork, and the use and/or possession of such materials (including for advertising) c) Trade descriptions legislation covers virtually any possibility where a mark, packaging, description etc are likely to refer to goods and constitute a false trade description Importation, manufacturing and distribution offences are regarded most seriously by Trading Standards Departments and the Courts. Retailers, however, although often acquiring offending goods innocently, may nevertheless be prosecuted for exposing f
