Ohio Lawmakers Hear Bill to Fight Online Sales of Counterfeit Goods

This week, the Ohio Senate began hearings on Senate Bill 184, which aims to provide online marketplace transparency, while preventing counterfeit and stolen goods from being sold online. Meanwhile, companion legislation in the House (House Bill 272) has already had hearings; the OMA offered support for the measure.

Fake and counterfeit products cost the U.S. $131 billion and 325,000 jobs in 2019 alone, according to research. Therefore, it’s important that online platforms have a minimum standard of seller verification to protect both consumers and legitimate businesses. Requiring retailer validation on the front end will help Ohio manufacturers protect their brands and intellectual property. 10/21/2021