Many brands initiated rights protection actions, and a large number of infringing products were seized.

Attracted by low costs and high profits, many sellers are taking chances and selling and transporting infringing products, which not only infringes on the interests of consumers and brands, but also loses their own credibility and loyal customers. Europe and the United States, as the main markets for sellers from various countries, have become the main destination for infringing products.

More than 400 sellers were sued, and multiple brands were involved in the case

Overseas, the review of infringement is relatively strict. It is not uncommon for sellers’ links to be removed and their accounts to be blocked due to selling counterfeit goods on platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Wish. Recently, several major brands have launched rights protection cases, and sellers’ accounts have been frozen. Relevant sellers should pay attention to avoid spoilers.

Three brands have been involved in cases recently, including the tool brand Gravity Hook, the clothing brand The Mountain, and the band brand Cheap Trick . Relevant sellers should pay attention to check themselves and remove their products from the shelves in time to avoid risks.

First of all, Gravity Hook is a gravity gripper tool made of stainless steel, which can be used for outdoor mountaineering and camping. The product is relatively niche in China, but outdoor sports are popular in Europe and the United States, and mountaineering is also one of the hobbies of many consumers, so it also has a certain market size in the local market.

A search on Amazon reveals that there are quite a few similar products on the platform. Words such as "Gravity", "Grappling" and "Hook" are also common in listings, but sellers need to note that "Gravity Hook" is a brand trademark.

(Photo source: uspto)

The brand has filed a lawsuit against the infringement. Currently, more than 400 sellers are known to have been sued and their stores are facing freezing.

The Mountain is another American T-shirt brand. The company defines itself as an environmentally friendly clothing manufacturer, using water-based inks and organic reactive dyes as the basis of the production process. The clothing designs are printed with elements such as wild animals, skulls, and dragons, with a clear 3D effect. It is deeply loved by consumers for its distinctive features.

The brand filed a rights protection case on March 31, with the case number 22-cv-1676. After inquiry, it was found that the brand has a large number of registered trademarks, including "Mountain girl", "3D TEES", "BIG FACE" and many other word trademarks and some pattern trademarks in addition to "The Mountain". Sellers should be careful not to use them.

The last one is the band brand Cheap Trick, a rock band founded in 1973. It became a mainstream band in 1979. It has experienced several popularity revivals in the past period of time. It has sold more than 20 million albums and performed 5,000 shows in total. It is still active.

Although it is an old band, it does not mean that there is no risk of infringement. Recently, the band also launched a rights protection case, mainly for trademark infringement. The band name "Cheap Trick" is a text trademark, and sellers should be careful not to use it in their products.

There have been several cases of bands defending their rights before, such as "green blue", "Motley Crue", "Sabaton", etc. Even seemingly ordinary words may pose a risk of infringement. Sellers should remember to screen and check on the trademark website before using them.

Sellers all know that infringement of well-known brands is not advisable, but for some relatively unpopular brands, the hidden risk of being sued for infringement cannot be ignored. Regardless of the category, sellers must do a good job of clearing mines to avoid falling into infringement disputes due to momentary negligence.

In addition to brand owners’ rights protection, customs is also a major force in combating infringing products. Since the beginning of this year, customs in various countries have seized a number of infringing products.

More than 160,000 US dollars worth of goods were seized, involving various brands

On March 29, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP) officials inspected a shipment of 250 women's brooches from China at the Port of Jackson in Vicksburg, Mississippi , U.S. The counterfeit jewelry bore the "CC" Chanel trademark . If sold as genuine products , their value would have reached $ 162,500 .

It is understood that the shipment was discovered during a routine inspection at an express consignment facility in central Mississippi, USA .

Data shows that in the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, CBP Vicksburg seized 73 shipments of goods that violated intellectual property rights, with a value of up to $998,900 . Most of the goods included fake shoes, designer handbags, jewelry, etc. In fiscal year 2021 , CBP Vicksburg seized a total of 431 shipments of goods, with a value of more than $5 million. The destinations of these goods were various cities in the central Mississippi region of the United States .

The country's official said consumers often mistakenly believe that purchasing counterfeit items is a victimless crime, however, these programs often fund transnational criminal organizations and cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

So far in fiscal year 2021, CBP has seized more than 20,000 shipments containing counterfeit goods that would have been valued at more than $1.3 billion if sold as authentic products .

CBP data shows that products such as handbags, wallets, apparel, footwear, watches, jewelry and consumer electronics are at a higher risk of being counterfeit . Counterfeit watches and jewelry account for almost half of the total suggested retail value of seized merchandise.

Counterfeit versions of popular brands are often sold on online marketplaces and at local flea markets. Counterfeit goods pose a threat to the health and safety of consumers and provide funding for criminal activities .

In addition to posing potential health and safety hazards, counterfeit goods are often of inferior quality . Consumers are reminded that peeling labels, poor-quality ink or printing errors on the packaging, and loose packaging in the box may indicate that the product they purchased is not legitimate.

Additionally, counterfeit clothing and handbags may have poor or uneven stitching, as well as markings of inappropriate size or design. The performance of counterfeit electronics is often characterized by short battery life and frequent overheating.

Additionally, consumers can take simple steps to protect themselves and their families from counterfeit goods by purchasing directly from trademark holders or authorized retailers.

Domestically, in recent years, my country's customs has also been continuously increasing its crackdown on infringing goods to better protect the rights and interests of consumers.

In March, Nanjing Lukou Customs seized 1,200 key chains with Disney trademarks. Guangzhou Customs also seized infringing mobile phone cases that infringed the "SAMSUNG" brand, and Shenzhen Customs also seized 23 "Bing Dwen Dwen" key chains, which were confirmed by the right holders to be infringing products. In addition, women's shoes, clothing, electronic products, etc. are also the main infringing categories investigated.

According to customs statistics, in 2021, customs across the country seized 79,000 batches and 71.8 million pieces of suspected infringing imported and exported goods. Judging from the seized goods, the products involved multiple brands and categories.

In addition to the customs crackdown on infringing goods, infringement has always been a "minefield" for cross-border sellers. Selling counterfeit goods still faces the risk of being discovered, and trademark and appearance infringements are the most common. If you are not careful, your funds will be frozen or even your store will be closed, which will affect the subsequent operations. Sellers must not take chances and must ensure product quality.

Infringement

freeze

defendant