San Francisco Chinese Counterfeiters Busted in Fisherman’s Wharf

There are lots of things one expects to see when one walks around San Francisco’s tourist trap, Fisherman’s Wharf: smelly noisy sea lions along Pier 39, people eating New England clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl (which I’ve still never understood why it’s a SF tourist must-do), and tons of stores selling counterfeit knock-offs of famous brands such as Ray-Bans, Coach, and Gucci. Now it looks like the last might be changing.

According to SFGate.com, a number of these stores–many with ties to companies in China–were suddenly closed this week, having been caught in an sting by the federal government. Many of the owners of these stores are also facing deportation as part of their punishment. While many people–myself included–understood that these goods sold at these stores are definitely counterfeit knockoffs, many others don’t know that these are fakes, and are copying and profiting off the hard work that the designers, artists and other people gainfully employed by these stores have done. After meeting friends who work as designers for these companies, I definitely understand why this bust is a big deal.