Diploma Thesis from the year 2006 in the subject Economics - International Economic Relations, grade: 1,7, http://www.uni-jena.de/, language: English, abstract: Since counterfeiting is an illicit business, quantitative approaches are limited. Additionally comprehensive quantitative research faces problems such as the high level of heterogeneity within the Chinese environment or political restrictions. Most counterfeiting research is based on personal interviews, observations, official records and data as well as publications of interest groups. Qualitative evaluation therefore seems the more effective methodological approach. Although the present study shows the results of quantitative research, the general methodology follows qualitative trajectories. The structure is divided into five main parts (Chapter 3 to Chapter 7) which combine descriptive and in the following, normative research. Chapter three introduces the impact of counterfeiting to highlight the up-to-date facts and importance of the issue. Chapter 4 to 6 represent the common market structure. They systematize the study into three main categories of research: environmental (economical, legal, political), supply side ("the counterfeiter") and the demand side ("consumers"). Each research category is examined towards: relevant drivers, attributes, and containment options. Chapter seven gives a final summary and analyses future prospects.