Consumers buy Fairtrade and counterfeit

Consumers who spend extra money supporting ethical trade often buy counterfeit products, a new survey claims.

The survey, commissioned by Microsoft, suggests that 89 per cent of the population buy items such as Fairtrade coffee and organic produce. However, over half of the sample admit to owning items they know to be counterfeited.

Also highlighted is another apparent double standard exhibited by UK consumers. Three quarters of the sample believe that ideas belong to those who create them. Nevertheless this ethical consideration evaporates for 43 per cent of the sample given the opportunity to buy cheap counterfeit and illegal goods.

 Alex Hilton, Microsoft anti-piracy manager, said: “The survey shows a higher than expected number of people who say they believe in protecting intellectual software but at the same time are buying counterfeit software. 

“It is surprising because a lot of these people make considerable efforts to purchase other products ethically.”

The results also highlight that the majority of respondents owning counterfeit goods believe UK public services are underfunded.

Bryan Lewin, lead officer for counterfeiting at the Trading Standards Institute, added that purchasing pirated goods supports organised crime, drugs and prostitution.

Independent research claims that only a ten per cent reduction in piracy would create £2.5bn additional government revenue. £2.5bn could provide nine more hospitals in the UK, a further 23,000 nurses or an 82 per cent rise in the Police Force in England and Wales.