The growing online trade in copycat goods is a new target in D.C.’s war on Big Tech, as policymakers pressure companies to take more responsibility for what happens on their platforms, Axios’ Margaret Harding McGill writes.
- The big picture: The spotlight on counterfeit goods is part of a broader push by lawmakers to use policy levers to hold tech companies accountable for real-world damage from users’ online actions.
Driving the news: Lawmakers want to crack down on the sales of fake products online, with two House committees raising the issue this week.
- House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler on Monday introduced the “SHOP SAFE” Act, which would hold online marketplaces responsible for trademark infringement if they don’t take steps to stop third parties from using their platforms to sell counterfeit goods with a health or safety risk.
- The House Energy and Commerce consumer protection subcommittee today will hear from Amazon, eBay, Apple and others in a hearing focused on fake and unsafe products sold online.
Discussion
