The amount of fake luxury goods has grown as shoppers in the UK find it increasingly acceptable to own them, a report has suggested.

Two-thirds of consumers, up 20% on 2006, are happy to own fake clothing, footwear, watches and other items.

But the Counterfeiting Luxury study, from law firm Davenport Lyons, found 80% of UK shoppers would be deterred if their purchases aided terrorism.

Favourite brands for fakers remain Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Burberry.

'Crime and criminality'

The survey of 2,000 people warned the "social acceptability of fake goods is a deeply concerning shift in consumer behaviour".

It called for UK action to tackle the fakes "head on" and said the most useful way to do this would be to highlight the fact that proceeds are going towards the funding of organised crime.

"Consumers need to understand that by buying fakes they are not just getting a relative bargain, they are fanning the flames of a much deeper social problem, crime and criminality," said the report's author, Simon Tracey.

Overseas buys

Just over 70% of shoppers said they would be deterred from buying fakes if they thought they might go to jail.

However, roughly the same percentage of those questioned thought that buying a fake should not be made illegal.

Nearly one third of shoppers bought a fake believing it to be the real thing.

Another trend spotted this year was the increase in the number of counterfeit goods bought overseas, with Europe, China, India and South East Asia all sources of fake items.

The report said firms were under threat from non-genuine sales in the UK through lost revenue, negative consumer perception and brand dilution.

More than half those surveyed said luxury brands lose their exclusivity if fakes are widely available.

See the full story on he bbc website here.. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6910710.stm

So my question.....

What with the internet widely available to anyone in the uk with a internet connection and with shopping centres like EBAY and QXL how will they control this kind of activity and also are any of you the readers bothered by owning a fake. I personally am not bothered my daughter owns a Louis Vitton purse ok it cost me £60.00 pounds compared to £120.00 at the time i thought it was real because i purchased it off EBAY and it looked in the advert to be real with box and certificate etc. Yet when i got it in the post the certificate looked as if it was produced. My daughter was extremely happy with the product.