Need for a strong anti-counterfeit ecosystem
Mr. Nguyen Quach Nhi - an e-commerce expert commented: "We cannot lose control of commercial sovereignty on digital platforms. E-commerce can become a paradise for counterfeit goods if there is a lack of management, but it can also be a powerful tool to distribute genuine goods to consumers, especially in rural areas.
According to Mr. Nhi, e-commerce not only brings opportunities to expand the market for businesses, but also helps people easily access quality products, if they prioritize shopping at genuine stalls (shop malls) - where goods are strictly controlled. However, Vietnam is losing a large market share to foreign enterprises due to the slow development of domestic e-commerce platforms.
It is worth mentioning that the situation of counterfeit goods on e-commerce platforms not only causes damage to businesses but also affects the whole society. This is an issue that requires synchronous participation from the state, businesses to consumers.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Consumer Protection Association emphasized: "We not only need to strictly handle violations but also promote reputable sales channels, creating a support for consumers in the digital environment".
Mr. Hong said that consumers need to proactively boycott counterfeit goods, not support violating products and actively report violations to market management forces or the Consumer Protection Association.
Strengthening legality and technology, arousing consumer role
From a legal perspective, Mr. Nguyen Tan Phong - Director of the Legal Consulting Center (Vietnam E-commerce Association - VECOM) warned: "The subjects of counterfeit goods business are increasingly sophisticated, even advertising more professionally than real businesses. High technology is being used incorrectly, causing great difficulties in verifying the origin of products".
Mr. Phong suggested that e-commerce platforms and social networking platforms proactively build mechanisms to control violating products, lock fraudulent accounts and share data with authorities to quickly track them. In addition, it is necessary to increase the application of technologies such as AI and Big Data to monitor and detect automatic violations.
Consumers who play a "frontline" in the fight against counterfeit goods need to be guided to identify genuine products and boldly report them.
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat - Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department informed that in the past, counterfeit goods often appeared in small stores in the market, but now they have crept into e-commerce platforms. This is an anonymous transaction location, making it difficult to trace the seller's address as well as the warehouse. The subjects of counterfeit and poor quality goods also take advantage of legal loopholes, dividing the shipments to avoid responsibility and conceal their identities.
Implementing the Prime Minister's Directive No. 13 on strengthening the fight against smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the new situation, the industry and trade sector is assigned the task of coordinating the construction of a database on goods, as a foundation for strategic orientation, traceability and combating smuggling and counterfeit goods.
The Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City and the Market Management Department of Ho Chi Minh City are implementing this task. However, this is a long-term process, requiring proper investment in information technology infrastructure, and at the same time, it is necessary to establish and synchronously connect with the national database" - Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat said.
