China’s Consumer Law: Knowingly Buying Fakes 知假买假

Can you claim punitive damages in #China if you know you are buying a fake? This podcast explores the controversial legal concept of “知假买假” (zhī jiǎ mǎi jiǎ) — knowingly purchasing counterfeit goods — and whether such buyers deserve compensation. Based on Liu Zhihua’s 2025 article A Judicial Study on the Application of Punitive Damages System to “Knowingly Buy Counterfeits”, we unpack China’s evolving consumer protection law, court cases, and the latest 2024 judicial interpretation. We examine three key legal tests: consumer identity (消费者身份), fraud and causation (欺诈与因果关系), and comparative insights from Germany and the US. Along the way, we highlight real case examples and ask whether professional counterfeit hunters should be legally protected or excluded. Perfect for students of law, policy makers, and anyone curious about China’s market governance, this episode brings clarity to a hotly debated topic.

Time Codes

00:00 - China Consumer Law
01:29 - Background: The Punitive Damages
03:03 - This system is meant to punish dishonest sellers
03:38 - Section 1: The Phenomenon of Knowingly Buyin Fake Goods
05:35 - Section 2: Legal Tests and Doctrinal Issues
05:42 - Consumer Identity
07:55 - The four elements (“四要件” sì yàojiàn)
09:15 - Section 3: Policy
10:34 - 1. Legislative clarity: Define “consumer”
10:48 - 2. Judicial guidance:
11:06 - 3. Comparative Borrowing
12:00 - Reflections

Knowingly Buy Counterfeits 知假买假
Punitive Damages 惩罚性赔偿
Consumer Identity 消费者身份
Fraud 欺诈
Causation 因果关系
Consumer Protection Law 消费者权益保护法
Food Safety Law 食品安全法
Judicial Interpretation 司法解释
Professional Counterfeit Hunters 职业打假人
Comparative Law 比较法
Market Supervision 市场监管
Civil Fraud 民事欺诈
Consumer Fraud 消费欺诈

#China, #chinalaw, #chineselaw, #chineseconsumerlaw, #fakes, #buyingfakes in China, #ConsumerProtectionLaw, #ConsumerFraud, #JudicialInterpretation, #FoodSafetyLaw