Private possession of counterfeits is not punishable in Germany; only sale and commercial distribution are forbidden; a boutique may therefore not retain the pen from a private customer on its own initiative. With dealers, however, identified counterfeits are seized by police or customs and destroyed. At EU level, intervention possibilities for trademark holders against private persons have tightened in the recent past, so a certain residual risk remains and the legal situation can vary. Safer than visiting the boutique is therefore first posting good photos in a collector forum, where experts on the basis of nib details, imprint, clip ring and feed can give an authenticity assessment.