Street of fakes launches its own brand and warns copycats to stay away

Beijing's Silk Street, the market famous for its counterfeit gear, from Louis Vuitton handbags to Polo shirts, has registered its own brand and promptly warned pirates not to copy its products.

Xinhua news agency has reported that the new brand would include 'apparel such as neckties, shirts and scarves, as well as a few household items such as tablecloths', all bearing its trademark.

All products sold are marked 'quality guaranteed', along with a label stating they are authentic goods from the market, beloved of foreign tourists and expatriates living in the city.

'Silk Street products are sold exclusively in the market. Anyone using the brand outside the market will be held liable,' said the market's general manager, Wang Zili.

It was not clear whether the announcement was made to coincide with a visit by former US commerce secretary Don Evans, who is scheduled to attend an intellectual property rights forum amid promises by Beijing to crack down on copyright violations.