(Posted January 2006)
 

A MESSAGE FROM JACKIE CHAN:
"FAKES COST MORE"

Jackie Chan in his newest role: the scourge of counterfeiters everywhere.

Counterfeiting is a major growth industry, with a global market valued at U.S. $500 billion. Industry sources estimate the worldwide production of counterfeit products to have soared 1,700 percent over the last 10 years. But the most surprising aspect of this growth is not in the numbers themselves, but the wide variety of industries that have become hotbeds for fakes.

These days, counterfeiting has moved well beyond DVDs -- including those of movies I've made -- and handbags. Fake products are becoming popular in industries such as food, medicine, toys, even cars and planes. This is enough to cause a threat to our safety, and really quite terrifying to think about it!

I was horrified to discover the existence of fake milk powder. Everyone knows just how fragile babies are, and they need to be protected. These criminals even use fake milk powder to exploit the public to boost their own gain: Selling fake milk powder whilst buying the real milk powder at home. When these people are caught they really need to be punished heavily and made an example of for such terrible crimes.

This is why I am taking part in "Fakes Cost More," a global campaign organized by the International Trademark Association (INTA), in hopes of raising awareness around the world in regards to the level of counterfeit goods infiltration and the danger this poses to all societies. You can do your part, too, by refusing to buy fakes -- because they do cost more, for all of us.