In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Ashley Chiaradio and Kristina Stidham discuss the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement that it will begin cracking down on the sale of counterfeit products online from platforms like Amazon.com. Last Friday, the DHS released a report stating that law enforcement officials will immediately start to identify cases where counterfeit goods are being sold online, and officials will “pursue civil fines and other penalties against these entities.” The administration was quick to point out that this initiative wasn't directed only at Amazon — although it certainly is a primary target. Now, the entire e-commerce ecosystem is going to be held responsible for the sale of counterfeit goods. Marketplaces with third-party sellers will need to pay particular attention to this and ensure that no fake goods are ending up on their sites. For some retailers, this crackdown will be a welcome intervention from the government, as pirated goods have stolen part of their profits for years. For others, the DHS’s actions may be cause for concern as the government focuses its hunt on marketplaces.
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