Beijing, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/05/2009 -- As one of China’s oldest and most well known law firms, Lehman Lee & Xu has been recognized as one of the top trademark firms in China by several intellectual property magazines and is managed by Mr. Edward Lehman, a leading expert on intellectual property and corporate law with 20 years of experience. However, although the firm has seen a wide array of intellectual property issues including trademark, patent, and copyright controversies—the economic downturn has spawned a new type of counterfeiting that is catching many consumers off guard.

It is no surprise that in the past China in particular has faced a great deal of criticism and pressure with regards to the manufacturing and distribution of illegal copies of foreign branded products in and outside of products. Yet the existence of such products is due to the demand for counterfeited goods. However, the internet has ushered in a new type of counterfeiting that is not in response to consumer demand but fertile ground for fraudsters to scam users by cybersquatting, false associations, and phishing.

Through abusing trademarks within the domain name system, using specified brands or trademarks to imply relationships where none exist, and diverting internet traffic to fraudulently acquire personal information and credit card details—fraudsters are finding more and more ways to make a profit. As Mr. Mathew McKee, Foreign Legal Counsel at Lehman, Lee & Xu commented, “Internet IP is a growing area of legal concern threatening real-world brands.” Mr. Andrew Lillis, also Foreign Legal Counsel at Lehman, Lee & Xu added “with more than 7,000 questionable domains it is getting harder to distinguish legitimate web sites.”

It is true that the current economic climate has created more opportunities for fraudsters to capitalize on consumer’s fears and lure them into cyber scams. As technology continues to advance and internet security tightens—these counterfeit sites are also finding ways to mimic false “security” and “trusted site” marks. Brandjackers are also using newer ways to take advantage of users says Mr. John Lee, IP attorney at Lehman, Lee & Xu, and emphasized that “they are finding new avenues every day—sites we use every day including blogs and social networking sites.”

But what effect does the economy have on these sorts of scams? Four key terms: foreclosure, mortgage, refinance, and unemployment. These are the words that play to consumer’s fears and have them falling for the phony money blog sites that offer financial advice those help refinance but actually redirect the users credit card information. Retail scams are using the same process of redirecting user information or creating entirely false web sites to attract unsuspecting online shoppers.

Lehman Lee & Xu is also a leading Chinese corporate and commercial law firm and trademark and patent agency with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, and Mongolia. To learn more about us, or about the firm’s intellectual property practice area, please visit our website at http://www.lehmanlaw.com or email us at mail@lehmanlaw.com.

Senayt Rahwa contributed to this article