Beware of Forged Evidence

In China, not only products are counterfeited, but also documents often lack the authenticity required in court. For example, an individual named Zhang filed an application to cancel the Yuanshai food trademark of Tianjin Zhongying Group because the trademark had not been used for three consecutive years. Upon review, the Intellectual Property Office determined from… Continue reading Beware of Forged Evidence

Counterfeiting in China: Platform Operators Must Demonstrate Measures

When fighting counterfeiting against online shops, it is often difficult for brand owners in China to identify the manufacturer of the counterfeits and to prosecute him legally. Therefore, the platform operator should also be sued in the lawsuit if he violates legal obligations.  According to the Chinese E-commerce Law, the owner of intellectual property right… Continue reading Counterfeiting in China: Platform Operators Must Demonstrate Measures

Covid-19: Customers Replace Originals Deliberately by Cheap Fakes

There is a new phenomenon in brand and product piracy: the deliberate replacement of originals. In order to compensate for the loss of sales and income caused by Covid-19, companies and consumers are intentionally replacing expensive originals with cheap Chinese copies. By replacing original branded products, they can significantly reduce their purchasing costs in the… Continue reading Covid-19: Customers Replace Originals Deliberately by Cheap Fakes

Return Fraud for Counterfeit Processors

The American chip manufacturer Intel reports a massive increase in counterfeit Intel CPUs (Central Processing Unit) for the Chinese market. The fakes are sold via e-commerce platforms such as AliExpress or Amazon, and third-party dealers try to smuggle large quantities of fake CPUs into the market by returning (Return Merchandise Authorization, RMA) allegedly original products.… Continue reading Return Fraud for Counterfeit Processors

Small Packages and Complex Routes

Every year, the OECD’s Illicit Trade series study records the current situation of global illegal trade. According to the study, the EU is particularly affected by international trade in counterfeit and pirated products, with around a quarter of all fakes flowing into the European Community in 2016. The counterfeit goods had a value of EUR… Continue reading Small Packages and Complex Routes

Product Fakes in Switzerland: Souvenirs Declining, Online Bargains on the Rise

In Switzerland, the number of counterfeit brand products imported by tourists as vacation souvenirs decreased by 40 percent in 2016, in comparison to 2015. Apparently, the Custom’s measures to inform tourists about the prohibited import of fake products are effective. Yet the growth of trade volumes with counterfeit products remains unbroken. The reason is the… Continue reading Product Fakes in Switzerland: Souvenirs Declining, Online Bargains on the Rise

Black Sheep in Anti-Counterfeiting – A New Challenge for Alibaba

Recently Alibaba efficiently fights against counterfeits on its e-commerce-platforms like Tmall or Taobao. The internet giant is also willing to closely cooperate with brand owners. As a result, more and more new businesses start to emerge with the aim to gain profit. Unfortunately, their actions are often based on unfair means. The main business of… Continue reading Black Sheep in Anti-Counterfeiting – A New Challenge for Alibaba

Alibaba Sues Counterfeiters on its Platform

For years, foreign brand owners have complained about the large numbers of fakes being offered on the Chinese online marketplaces Alibaba and Taobao. Indeed are those platforms full of counterfeit products and most brand owners think that Alibaba is not putting enough effort into combatting the surge of fakes on offer. Yet now Alibaba reacts… Continue reading Alibaba Sues Counterfeiters on its Platform