Just for clarity and hopefully to put an end to this, here is one of about 1000 quotes I read on the subject of counterfeiting and the purchasing of counterfeit/replica items. In no way can Lamborghini come after an individual person for obtaining a replica. Frowned upon yes but not illegal. There is no way this many people can be wrong on the subject, it is solely on the person producing the replica. If he had just advertised them as nothing more than a shell, he more than likely would have been untouchable by Lamborghini.
The Fine Line of Legality
It’s an urban legend that buying fake handbags or knockoff sunglasses – or any other type of counterfeit goods, for that matter – is against the law. Let’s put a stop to that rumor right now: it’s not illegal. The misinformation gained traction in spring of 2011, when a New York City councilwoman proposed making buying fake handbags a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and possibly jail time. The measure, however, failed to pass. You can still get your Guchi and Prado bags along NYC’s Canal Street without fear of legal reprisals.
However, that doesn’t mean the law fails to hold the other side of the exchange responsible for selling those counterfeit goods, although there are plenty of shades of gray here too. Say you try to sell a pair of fake Air Jordan shoes, pawning them off as the real deal – that’s against the law. Why? Because it’s trademark infringement. But if you just sell a pair of tennis shoes that look like Air Jordans, but don’t use any of the logos (like the Nike “swoosh” or the silhouette of Jordan soaring through the air for a dunk) – and, most importantly, don’t claim they’re the real deal – you’re likely in the clear.
