Getting Real About Fake Designer Handbags counterfeit merchandise is nothing new. If something gets hot, and expensive, cheaper copycat versions are likely to follow. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/scams/20040929a1.asp
Extractions: By Alex Barbieri Counterfeit merchandise is nothing new. If something gets hot, and expensive, cheaper copycat versions are likely to follow. But these days, the desire for designer handbags, shoes and jewelry and the demand for their counterfeit counterparts has reached new heights. Is there any harm in saving money by buying a knock-off wallet or watch? The companies and organizations fighting it think so. They say buyers are unwittingly underwriting organized crime, not to mention compromising the sanctity of intellectual property. Still, imitations are selling, and at a fraction of the cost of the originals. Can consumers be blamed for this mass flocking to fakes? One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, justified the purchase of knockoff designer items by saying, "Who can afford $2,000 for a Rolex watch, or $500 for a Louis Vuitton purse? If the companies didn't charge so much, people wouldn't have to buy fakes." Her stylish friend added, "People want to be like their favorite celebrities. Carrying a Louis purse or wearing a Tiffany necklace is a status symbol ... as long as no one else knows it isn't real."
Intellectual Property - Counterfeit Merchandise And Brands Our inestigations have led to more effective compliance and significant benefits to both legitimate businesses and the Government. http://www.detectives-sa.co.za/intellectual_property.html
Experts Warn Of Counterfeit Merchandise - From Tampa Bay Online Bolts.TBO.com a comprehensive guide to Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey, including stories, statistics, multimedia reports from TBO.com, WFLA News Channel 8 and http://bolts.tbo.com/lightning/MGB8MZJUOUD.html
Extractions: TAMPA - If you plunk down $10 on a Tampa Bay ''Lightening'' T-shirt, shame on you. You should know how to spell the team's name - a tip-off that the shirt was probably cooked up by a counterfeiter, experts say. Scam artists abound at sporting events, and this week's Stanley Cup finals likely will be no exception. They count on fans' euphoria to blind them to a cheaply made shirt that might come apart or fade after one wash, or worse, misspell a player's name. ``We actually found one about a month ago where they misspelled [Lightning center] Vincent Lecavalier's name,'' said Tom Prochnow, vice president of the National Hockey League's legal and business affairs. Hot tickets such as the Stanley Cup finals also bring out ``the Picassos of the ticket fraud world,'' said Eric Baker, president of StubHub.com, an online ticket resale service. The site's users sold tickets to Thursday's Game 2, asking for $159 to more than $800 apiece. ``It's hard to tell a phony ticket with the naked eye,'' Baker said.
Extractions: According to an article entitled Huge Haul of Counterfeits Seized in Warehouse New York Times , 6/24/2005), so much counterfeit merchandise was seized during the week of June 20th that two, continuously-running, tractor-trailers were needed to haul the stash from a Manhattan warehouse to Smithtown, Long Island, where an incinerator is located.
CAPSINFO.COM COALITION TO ADVANCE THE PROTECTION OF SPORTS LOGOS CAPS conducts trademark and copyright enforcement for The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), Major League Baseball Properties (MLB); NHL http://tmsyn.wc.ask.com/r?t=an&s=hb&uid=24312681243126812&sid=343126
About New York City On LittleViews.com Fake Designer Bags in New York City, part 5 counterfeit merchandise Seized in New York City, 6/30/05 One Wine Tasting Event Multiple Pleasures in New http://www.littleviews.com/
Extractions: Like wow. Is this a cute picture or what? If anyone knows the name of this little girl who was enjoying the Bryant Park Merry-Go-Round on Saturday, August 13, 2005, please let me know! And for all you kids (tiny to adult), spend time in Bryant Park on 40th Street in New York, NY. It's by boutiques, great food, a fashion-magazine specialty shop, plus provides a sophisticated, easy-to-love atmosphere. Oh, and it's behind the famous New York Library.
Anti-Counterfeiting - Kessler International Some purchasers are aware theyre buying counterfeit merchandise, counterfeit merchandise is placed in highend stores and boutiques where their http://www.investigation.com/anti_counterfeiting.htm
Extractions: Product counterfeiting operations continue to multiply as more criminals take advantage of high tax-free profits, the low risk of being caught, and minimal penalties if convicted. International organized-crime syndicates with deep pockets are now financing high-tech manufacturing networks engaging in counterfeiting and gray market crimes. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials lack the time, equipment and expertise to track down and stop counterfeiting schemers effectively. Go to just about any street corner in any major city in the world. Chances are good that youll find an individual willing to sell you the latest designer product for a fraction of the retail price. Most times its obvious. After all, we know that the $25.00 Rolex watch or the pair of $10.00 Nike sneakers are probably counterfeit products, but in some cases the fraud is not so easy to detect. Why is counterfeiting so rampant? A few of the reasons include: Many excellent graphic artists are willing to duplicate the logos and designs of well-known designers.
Kessler International - News Articles And Press Releases Research into the problems of counterfeit merchandise on the Internet has brought us These distributors of counterfeit merchandise are attempting to http://www.investigation.com/press/press7.htm
Extractions: Too Good To Be True NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 1998: The old adage buyer beware has never been more accurate than it is today. Just a click of your mouse and you can get the most incredible deals on designer watches, handbags, fragrances, scarves, liquors and sinfully delicious chocolates. There is only one drawback. They are all fakes! Research into the problems of counterfeit merchandise on the Internet has brought us site after site after site where the innocent and naive online shopper is bombarded with claims of great prices on name brand items. The prices may be great, but the name brands are not. These distributors of counterfeit merchandise are attempting to circumvent the legal system by calling these items "replicas," often in small print within the advertisements. These items are being traded on newsgroups as well as Internet sites. Many unsuspecting shoppers have no idea that the items they are receiving are not authentic merchandise. Recent reports have noted incidents of counterfeit items being found in just about every product line. The newest craze for pint-sized beanie filled stuffed animals, (i.e. Beanie Babies) has opened the door to counterfeit sales of these items online. The craze has caused large prices being paid for what is termed "retired" beanie babies. These are netting anywhere between $500-$2000 in the marketplace. The Better Business Bureau in many major cities have been contacted by consumers who have purchased these retired babies online and later found when they brought them to an authorized dealer, that they were poor imitations.
Extractions: (HOUSTON, TX) United States Attorney Michael Shelby announced today Zheng Xiao Yi, 34, a Chinese national, was convicted by a jury's verdict of six counts of trafficking in counterfeit merchandise. Each count of conviction carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine. Zheng, who has been held in federal custody without bond, will remain in federal custody pending his sentencing scheduled for October 18, 2004. Indicted in January 2004, Zheng, the owner of XYZ Trading Corp., located at 7018 Harwin Drive, Houston, Texas, was charged with trafficking and attempting to traffic in merchandise imported from China carrying counterfeit trademarks. The counterfeit trademarks were alleged to be identical with or substantially indistinguishable from genuine trademarks registered to The Gillette Company, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.®, Marvel Enterprises, Inc., and Nike Inc., including Duracell batteries and flashlights, Spider-Man figures, extension cords and power- strips and Nike slippers. The jury's verdict, which was returned late yesterday afternoon, brought to an end a four day trial during which the United States presented its evidence proving that Zheng, a Harwin Drive importer and wholesaler, trafficked in counterfeit goods imported from China between August 2003 and November 2003.
050215-Zheng CHINESE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO PRISON TERM FOR DEALING IN counterfeit merchandise in counterfeit merchandise illegally imported from his native China. http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txs/releases/February2005/050215-Zheng.htm
Extractions: CHINESE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO PRISON TERM FOR DEALING IN COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISE (HOUSTON, TX) United States Attorney Michael Shelby announced today that Zheng Xiao Yi, a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China who owned and operated an import and wholesale business in the Harwin Drive area of Houston, has been sentenced to more than five (5) years in federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods. At a hearing held yesterday, February 14, 2005, Yi was sentenced to serve a total of 63 months in federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit merchandise illegally imported from his native China. Zheng also faces deportation upon his release from prison. The jury's verdicts were returned following a four day trial during which the United States proved that Zheng, a Harwin Drive importer and wholesaler, trafficked in counterfeit goods imported from China between August 2003 and November 2003. Testimony during trial established that a load of Zheng's merchandise was seized in August 2003 after inspectors noticed that the contents of a container shipped from China to XYZ Trading Corp., Zheng's showroom and warehouse, did not match the packing list. Thereafter, the U. S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated an investigation that resulted in the seizure of a second cargo container and the execution of a search warrant on November 7, 2003 at Zheng's place of business.
