In last week’s blog post, we discussed how selling fake items online can lead to criminal charges. This often occurs when a Californian, without authorization, places another’s trademark on their products with the intention of reaping the benefits of that mark. For example, a California consumer may be more drawn to Nike than to an unknown brand of shoes. So, in the eyes of the law, using the Nike Swoosh logo on the unknown shoes is wrong.
Those who face criminal charges for trademark infringement are in for quite a fight. Losing could mean spending years, perhaps even decades behind bars. Being forced to pay fines that could cripple one’s financial well-being. Making matters worse, defending against these allegations can be difficult. Trademark is a complex area of law, and when it clashes with the Internet and Internet crimes, a defense may need to take on a whole new approach.
The good news is that there are legal professionals in Sacramento that can competently represent Californians who face these types of accusations. By discussing the matter with one of these legal teams, like the one at the Law Office of Thomas A. Johnson, an accused individual may receive the help needed to develop a strong criminal defense. This may mean arguing that use of the marks was protected under the Fair Use Doctrine, or it could mean making a case for showing that the accused was not involved in the matter in any way.
Regardless, when decades of your life, your financial health and your future is on the line, you should be sure you walk into a courtroom fully prepared. In many cases, the only way to do this is to work with an attorney, who has your best interests at heart and will fight for your best interests.