Overview On the streets of any large city, you will find vendors selling knockoffs of expensive brands, from watches to handbags

Overview

On the streets of any large city, you will find vendors selling knockoffs of expensive brands, from watches to handbags. Most people who pick up a bargain from a street vendor know that the “brand-name” product they’re buying is not the real thing. However, many consumers are unaware that some of the products they buy—including DVDs—are actually pirated. Piracy and counterfeit are issues with enormous legal, economic and human consequences.

Directions

For this Project, you will research the issues of counterfeit and piracy and write an argumentative essay that incorporates information from at least three different sources. In preparation for your essay:

1. review the concepts of counterfeit, piracy, intellectual property, licensing, trademark and copyright. Make sure you understand the types of products that are most commonly counterfeited and pirated, and why. Think about the consequences of counterfeit and piracy and the people who are affected.
2. choose one of these three topics to explore:
   • Software and/or media (CDs, DVDs)
   • Fashion and luxury goods
   • Pharmaceuticals

Next, write an argumentative essay about counterfeit and piracy. In your essay, be sure to: 

1. make an argument either for or against counterfeiting and piracy as they relate to your chosen topic.
2. include a clear thesis statement in your first paragraph. See the Project resources for tips on writing one.
3. explain the concepts of counterfeit, piracy, intellectual property, licensing, trademark and copyright in your own words.
4. explain how these concepts relate to the topic you have chosen.
5. support your argument by including and explaining relevant statistics and/or examples.
6. discuss the economic, social, legal and health (if applicable) issues surrounding your chosen topic.
7. address the moral and ethical implications associated with your chosen topic.
8. articulate a likely counterargument (what someone arguing against your position might say) and the points someone might make to support it.
9. Address the counterargument and explain why it is invalid.

It is essential that your essay:

• is written in your own words.
• includes an appropriate title.
• includes citations in APA format that identify your sources, as well as a reference page.
• is at least 1,000 words long.

DELIVERABLES

 Project Resources

These are links to public external resources. Any comments or statements made on these public websites are not representative of College for America.

What is Intellectual Property?

Review this site, which explains the concept of intellectual property. Click on the links to learn more about patents, copyrights and trademarks.

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Facts on Fakes

Read this question-and-answer style article, which provides information about counterfeit products and their impact on the economy.

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What Are the Social and Economic Consequences of Counterfeiting and Piracy

Read this article, which explains the social and economic consequences of counterfeiting and piracy.

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Fake Goods Are Fine, Says EU Study

Read this article, which describes a European Union study that concluded that there is no harm in purchasing counterfeit goods.

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Protecting Fashion Designers

Read this article, which discusses the Innovative Design Protection Act of 2012, or the “Fashion Bill,” which places copyrights on unique fashion designs.

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Software Piracy: Study Claims 57 Percent of the World Pirates Software

Read this article and/or watch the video located at the end of the article, which discuss software piracy.

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Piracy Isn't Killing the Entertainment Industry, Scholars Show

Read this article, which argues that file-sharing is helping, not hurting, the entertainment industry.

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Global Counterfeit Drug Threat; How Fake Medicines Threaten Consumers

Watch this video discussing counterfeit medicine.

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Counterfeit Drugs: Facts & Figures

Read this article, which explains counterfeit medicines and provides an explanation as to why counterfeit drugs have become so popular.

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Thinking Ethically

Read this article, which explains how to think through moral and ethical issues.

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Structuring an Argumentative Essay

Use this suggested format when writing your argumentative essay. ?

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Intellectual Property Rights Seizure Statistics Fiscal Year 2014 Report

Read this report, which shows the statistics of seized counterfeit goods in 2014.

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Making an Argument

Read this resource, which provides some helpful information for presenting an effective argument. Be sure to also review the section entitled "Logic in Argumentative Writing" to help generate your argument.