is it illegal to purchase replica designer hand bags?

Jodi....yes, it's illegal to buy them in Rome as well. Your problem won't necessarily come when you buy it....it'll come when you try to bring it back home....if customs finds it, they'll seize it, and possibly fine you for having countefeit material.

Jodi it is illegal but the idea of customs questioning if it is real is highly unlikely.

We've seen signage in Pisa regarding the trafficing of replica goods referring to Italian legislation - not a local bylaw. So it's illegal anywhere in Italy to sell or buy them.

However, you'll find street vendors selling them in any of the larger tourist centres. They set up shop on the side walk and stay there for 30 minutes or whatever time they feel it's "safe" for them till a carabinieri would make an end to their illegal dealings. And suddenly you see them running off in all directions.

That said, my daughter did buy a 'Gucci' handbag and brought it home without incident. Nobody said it was a counterfeit but the fact that she haggled the price down from 50 Euro to 15 didn't need any further explanation. And the lacking quality was very obvious as well.

That's funny...I've seen them seized in Philadelphia, Washington, and Toronto on the way back from Italy.

I'm glad Homeland Security has their priorities straight:)

Homeland Security only cares if you're a potential terrorist threat....but can you imagine the ire of the Italians over letting too many fake designer handbags in? ;)

I hope tonight's episode of Homeland Security USA on ABC, has a segment about this...I love watching grownups cry. On last weeks episode an entire baggage hall had to be evacuated when Customs officials heard a buzzing sound coming from a piece of luggage. It later turned out to be a back massager which accidentally switched on.

Huhn. I used my replica bag as a carry-on and took it through customs.

Then you're lucky. It seems to go in cycles....depending on how insistent the Italians get, and whether we in North America want some sort of similar crackdown from the Italians.

Michael...I had heard it was a different kind of massager that was switched on ;)

In Florence, you will see African immigrants selling replica bags, sunglasses, etc. near the Uffizi/Ponte Vecchio and other tourist places in the city. It is illegal. The handbags are set out on blankets and the sunglasses attached to foldable cardboard. As the Policia approach, they can collapse their materials in 3 seconds or less and walk off. Oddly, when the Policia walk through, they can see the trafficers standing nearby holding their sacks and cardboard. We did not see them make any arrests. Moments after the Policia goes through, they are back in business.

If you are caught by the Italian police buying the fakes from the street vendors, the fines can be hefty.

I confirm what Larry saw in Florence. We saw a group of street vendors running at top speed carrying their wares in blankets, presumably being chased by the police. After seeing that, I personally wouldn't risk buying from them.

During law school I had an internship at a US law firm that does a lot of trademark type stuff and i recall distinctly in my research that it is Italian national law that both selling AND purchasing knock-off goods.... in the US it is still only illegal to sell.

Just out of curiosity: if it's not illegal in the US ot buy knock-offs what legal basis would US customs officers have if they they knock offs being imported from Italy?

It is illegal in all of Italy to buy or sell these fake designer handbags, belts, or anything counterfeit, and yes, the fines are hefty for people who buy this stuff, but they have to catch you in the act of buying the bag.

Designer labels are protected by US laws (trademarks). This is why US customs agents can seize the purses and other items.

Thanks for all of the good feedback! Not that I'm a habitual law breaker, but it seems that this particular law isn't taken very seriously. I'd like to know how many replica buying tourists actually get caught and fined for buying a purse? I mean - does that really happen? I like the idea of using it as my own carry-on on the way home........

It's illegal because they are stealing the brand name of someone else. Companies try to make their brands stand for something (style, quality, durability). Knockoff items not only affect a company's sales, they can undermine the brand.

Typically customs won't confiscate a single item brought home by a tourist although in a strict sense they could. They regularly confiscate shipments of fake goods coming into ports.

It's never legal to bring back a knockoff product. Customs probably won't seize a single item. They might if you're being obnoxious or carrying multiple items.

There are places (real stores, not just guys on the street) especially in florence that sell wallets, handbags, belts, made of beautiful Italian leather. they aren't Fendi, Prada and such, but they can be very nice, and won't break the bank for a gift for your sister. In Venice you could get her a beautiful piece of Murano glass, albeit a very small one; just make sure it's not an import. If you're checking bags on the way home you could pick up a nice bottle of Italian wine for her (how old is she?) You could also buy her a beautiful scarf that wouldn't break the bank, and have the added convenience of easy to pack for home.

It is illegal-but what we saw was police more or less chasing the counterfeit sellers off in Venice. However, there have been people who have been fined for buying the counterfeit bags so...it's up to you. (I think they occasionally make an "example" of someone...and with my luck it would be me) I personally did not want to do business with any of these sellers. They use high pressure sales techniques and undermine honest business people. It was kind of creepy how they lurked around the stalls of the markets in Florence and kind of jumped out at you trying to sell things. You read all the time about travelers being "put off" by people thrusting things at them and harrassing them to buy, yet the only reason they do it is it works. Enough preaching-enjoy your trip.

Hi Jodi,
I can't speak about Italy but I have bought numerous "designer" bags in the Carribbean and Turkey and have never had any issue with customs. I have even come back with as many as 5 bags at once and even used one as a carry on. I assume that you run a risk of actually purchasing them in Italy, but I think the risk of returning home is small. I am heading to Rome this summer and am intending on purchasing one or two bags. Good luck Jodi

Jodi the police do nothing more than chase the merchants off. The street merchants have more to fear than someone purchasing an item. The bags are laid out on a large cloth & the sunglasses are attached to a large cardboard. We seen these merchants in Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, & Naples. It seems the local police do nothing more than scare them off as they move to the next block & lay their products out again. Have fun & never pay the price they orig ask for.

I had looked at knockoff handbags on a trip to Italy two years ago but didn't guy any. Last year I caved in to the high pressure sales pitch in Venice and bought one. I regretted it almost immediately. Although they look pretty good at first glance, on closer inspection you will find many flaws. The interiors are almost always cheap flimsy fabric, the stitching is often crooked and they are sometimes glued together. Also note that the little identifying name brand tag is often crooked. At first I thought it would be kind of a fun accessory, but now that I realize how obvious it is that its a fake, I have never used it.

I am actually surprised this hasn't come up. Several newspaper articles and at least one book have been written about the sale of these counterfeit articles funding terrorism around the world. If it is not enough that you are personally supporting illegal activities, consider that you are adding to the proliferation of terrorism around the world.

The FBI's joint terrorism task force uncovered that the sale of counterfeit goods financed the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.You can be guaranteed it has financed many other terrorist acts as well.It is not that you haven't or maybe won't be caught, it is that what you are doing is helping destroy humanity.

Buying counterfeit goods funds organized crime. I don't understand the need to own a purse or any other item with a brand name on it when the item isn't authentic.

Sorry, saw the thread and all I could think about was the term "Fashion Police" ;)

Judy and Samsn......lighten up...I just asked a simple question and you (Judy) are basically accusing me of supporing terrorism! And Samsn, if I want to own a bag with a fake designer name, that is my business and my opinion....I don't need your ridiculous lectures....either of you.

Jodi: When people come on this board and ask about doing something illegal, such as your question about knock-off handbags, or others' questions about how to be illegally employed in Europe, etc., the answers are bound to displease the OP. Dodgy behaviour is seldom encouraged here.

You guys seriously crack me up! I bet you've never driven over the speed limit either! You act like I'm asking how to buy crack or something....jeesh!

Hi Jodi, as a person who bought such a bag, I wouldn't take Judy's post so personally. She's sharing her knowledge and opinion so everyone reading this thread can make their decision. I mean, you did ask for this in your original post.

I know it's hard to accurately interpret one's tone or underlying message from an email. I've made these mistakes myself.

I don't think my interpretation of Judy's post was a mistake. Her actual words? "it is that what you are doing is helping destroy humanity".....pretty strong IMO. If Judy would have read my post closer, she would have seen that I asked if this was illegal, because i did not know. I then stated "if legal, please give me more info...yada-yada"......that was no misinterpretation.......she was downright rude.

OK. I gotcha. But, I think her pointed remarks were directed to other people like me who admitted buying one.