Since the end of the Beijing Olympic Games last month, supporters have returned from China reporting an epidemic of fake brands!
Pictures of the phony brands are being showcased via photo-sharing site Flickr by online brand management specialist NetNames to highlight the extent of the misuse in China’s capital.
Alongside copycat Starbucks cafes and imitation iPods, images posted so far feature storefronts for “Nibe” (Nike) and “YifuShintLoudrant” (YvesSaintLaurent), “Adinais” (Adidas) trainers and “Penesamig” (Panasonic) batteries.
The collection of images has been taken by consumers and highlights incidents of the world’s most recognised logos receiving unusual makeovers. The new photographic evidence shows that Western brands are being misrepresented by high-profile fakes across the country. 
Jonathan Robinson, chief operating officer, NetNames comments: “When we asked consumers to send in photos of the misuse of corporate brands in China, we were amazed to see entire stores using familiar branding to mimic Western superbrands. We hope to be able to use this campaign to highlight just how widespread brand misuse is, not just in the East but across the world. The level of response to date demonstrates that it’s more important than ever for brands to protect the integrity of their name both online and on the high street.”
