MarkMonitor Warns of New ‘Knives on the Net’ Threat

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August 11, 2008

LONDON, August 11 /PRNewswire/ — Research by MarkMonitor, the global leader in enterprise brandprotection, demonstrates the ease in which a variety of knives, from pocketknives to machetes, can be purchased over the internet from high-streetretail brands, eCommerce, online auction and exchange sites with little to norestrictions. It is becoming increasingly easy to purchase deadly weaponsonline at a fraction of the retail price, often with no regulationscontrolling who is purchasing them and why. Over a three-day period in July 2008, MarkMonitor found thatalmost 9,021 knives (worth approximately GBP65,000) were available for saleon online auction sites. 55% were available to purchase instantly with nowarnings or restrictions. MarkMonitor has also checked the websites of the UK’s top departmentstores and retailers and out of a list of 6 top retailers, 4 were sellingknives with no warnings, age limits or restrictions and may therefore beinfringing legislation. Key findings: - One seller has a total of 429 knives for sale, all with the option of instant purchasing and an online sales value of around GBP8,700 - One seller currently has 5 auctions selling illegal semi automatic daggers (assisted opening knives)* - The same seller has sold 32 knives in July 2008 alone totalling around GBP250, the majority of them over 3 inches in length** and without any listing advising that it is a legal requirement that the buyer must be over 18 years of age - A variety of different knives, from pocket knives to machetes were also found to be prevalent on b2b exchanges with some able to supply up to 50,000 units per month - The online sites of 22 retailers were advertising the sale of knives, with only 1 of these advising the buyer should be over 18 years old - The top 5 types of knife being sold online over the three day period include: Hunting knife 1333 Lock knife 1259 Army knife 786 Pocket knife 707 Pen knife 498″Only one of the online stores we found had a statement ontheir site forbidding purchase to under 18’s,” reports Charlie Abrahams,MarkMonitor’s VP and General Manager, EMEA. “With children as young as 11 nowbeing able to obtain debit and solo cards, imposing age restrictions willbecome increasingly challenging. Responsible retailers should look closely attheir policies in allowing knives to be purchased from their onlineproperties. ” Notes to Editors: Methodology MarkMonitor searched auction sites, b2b exchanges and commercesites for the term ‘Knife’ and ‘knives’ over a 3 day period in July 2008. * Source: It illegal to own, sell, hire, lend or give awaysemi automatic knives. Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959. Section1(1). Offence: It is an offence for a person to manufacture, sell,hire or offer for sale or hire or expose or have in his possession for thepurpose of sale or hire, or lend or give to any person: A) any knife which has a blade which opens automatically byhand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached tothe handle of the knife, sometimes know as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’; or B) any knife which has a blade which is released from thehandle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application ofcentrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of abutton, spring, lever, or other device, sometimes known as a ‘gravity knife’. ** Source: Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988prohibits the possession in a public place of any article which has a bladeor is sharply pointed, (including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edgeof its blade exceeds 7.62cm/3 inches) (Archbold, 24.125) and Section 43 ofthe Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 amends section 141A(1) of the CriminalJustice Act 1988 under which it is currently an offence to sell a knife or anarticle with a blade or point to a person under the age of 16 years. Section43 increases that age to 18. *** Source: http://www.tunedinresearch.com/ A recent survey of 355 people aged 16 to 24 in London,Manchester and Bristol by market research company, Tuned In found that 30 percent believed it was acceptable sometimes to carry a knife while 23 per centwould use one. About MarkMonitor MarkMonitor, the global leader in enterprise brand protection,offers comprehensive solutions and services that safeguard brands, reputationand revenue from online risks. With end-to-end solutions that address thegrowing threats of online fraud, brand abuse and unauthorised channels,MarkMonitor enables a secure Internet for businesses and their customers. Thecompany’s exclusive access to data combined with its patented real-timeprevention, detection and response capabilities provide wide-rangingprotection to the ever-changing online risks faced by brands today. For moreinformation, visit http://www.markmonitor.com.MarkMonitor

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