Jack Ma wants serious jail time for counterfeiters

Alibaba continues to fend off allegations about failing to remove fake products from its platform

Billionaire Alibaba-founder Jack Ma wants China’s top lawmakers to come down harder on fake goods — the very same plea voiced by global brands that have accused the e-commerce service of harbouring knock-offs.

The Alibaba Group Holding chairman appealed to the National People’s Congress convening in Beijing this week to penalise counterfeiters as harshly as drunk drivers. In an open letter published on his Weibo account Tuesday, Ma said enforcement had been too lax and the authorities should raise maximum prison sentences and other penalties to deter illegal profiteers.

The unusual public entreaty follows persistent criticism that Ma and his company haven’t