Carl Hansen & Søn, in collaboration with the Danish Rights Alliance, has taken a stand against counterfeiting, a growing global issue. Every month, up to 1000 websites and marketplaces selling replicas of the company's iconic chairs are shut down – and the number is increasing.
Carl Hansen & Søn is just one of many companies being subjected to intellectual property theft by a wide range of unscrupulous manufacturers around the world. The iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair and the CH07 Shell Chair, in particular, are increasingly subjected to plagiarism. Behind the attractive prices of the replicas, however, there are a number of factors that buyers compromise on - often without knowing the full picture of the nature and creation of the products.
Many customers are unaware of what is jeopardised by acquiring a counterfeit product, and 19% of Danes are even considering investing in one. This is according to research conducted by the Danish Rights Alliance - an advocacy organisation that fights to protect the rights of creative industries.
'Replicas are not only a challenge for Danish design companies - they also cheat consumers of the quality, safety and ethics that genuine design represents. We are working hard to combat illegal websites selling counterfeit goods, but educating consumers is just as important as, according to our research, almost one in five Danes are considering buying copies in the future. It's a problem we can only solve together. That's why we are proud to stand together with Carl Hansen & Søn in the fight against counterfeiters and for consumer education. - Maria Fredenslund, CEO of the Danish Rights Alliance
Five good reasons to buy originals over copies?
- Don't support crime
Buying a counterfeit product is theft. It's as simple as that. Carl Hansen & Søn, as well as their designers, devote enormous resources to developing and manufacturing products for future generations to enjoy. Not only is it illegal to import, sell, or give away a counterfeit product in the EU, you also risk supporting the criminal organisations behind the production of the counterfeit products who, in many cases, are also involved in drug and human trafficking. - Choose sustainability
When you choose a Carl Hansen & Søn product, you are also choosing sustainability. All their raw wood is FSC-certified and/or comes from sustainable forestry. They use no harmful chemicals, and their products can be repaired and thus passed on from generation to generation, which is impossible with copies as opposed to originals.
They also make use of all the wood - right down to the smallest grain of dust. Surplus wood from their furniture manufacture is used to produce smaller accessories like cutting boards and sawdust is used to produce heat for our their factory and more than 400 households in Gelsted on Funen. - Ensure your safety
Carl Hansen & Søn products are free of harmful substances and are tested for stability by Danish Technological Institute, thus offering consumers security and peace of mind. For counterfeit goods manufacturers, profit is all that counts and they are happy to use cheap but harmful substances. Copiers do not have to worry about their reputation or quality, as the original producers and consumers are the ones that suffer the consequences. - Employee wellbeing
At Carl Hansen & Søn, they take pride in creating good working environments for our employees, both in Denmark and in Vietnam, where they were named one of Vietnam's best workplaces in 2023. Counterfeit goods are often produced without any standards for or control of working conditions and hygiene. This puts workers in a vulnerable position and increases the risk of exploitation. - Keep good jobs and apprentices
Counterfeit goods mean huge revenue losses for innovative companies like Carl Hansen & Søn - and fewer good jobs and apprenticeships. They employ 550 people in Gelsted on Funen, where they also continuously train cabinetmakers and upholsterers. In addition, they have hired approximately 300 more employees in Vietnam. These jobs are put under pressure and are subject to unfair competition when copiers steal their ideas and designs.
If you would like to explore the topic of plagiarism further, please contact Carl Hansen & Søn. The Danish Rights Alliance and Carl Hansen & Søn are happy to help with further information that can shed light on the issues of copying.
More information:
Carl Hansen & Søn
[email protected]
www.carlhansen.com