Fake designer clothing, pirated media sales rising

The entertainment and fashion industries are losing battles against pirated media and fake designer clothing, according to a report saying the number of U.S. adults buying such goods rose 4 percent this year.

Illegal copies of songs, which topped the list, footwear and other items were bought at least once in the past year by 22 percent of adults, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce study. The figure compares with 18 percent last year and 13 percent in 2005.

The report, based on a Gallup survey of about 4,300 people, shows "consumers still don't understand the broader implications of piracy," Chamber of Commerce IP Director Caroline Joiner said in an interview. "They still think it's a victimless crime."

Trade groups and government agencies have been trying to curtail piracy and counterfeiting though legal action and education, claiming such behavior costs the U.S. economy more than $200 billion a year. The chamber's study suggests those efforts are having limited impact, at least among U.S. adults.