IP News

NBI Cracks Down on Counterfeit Lacoste Manufacturer in the Philippines

August 29, 2009

Almost PhP34 million worth of counterfeit Lacoste apparel and machinery used in counterfeiting operations were recently seized from a manufacturing facility in Valenzuela City, Philippines by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Several high-speed sewing machines and a 20-head embroidery machine used to make counterfeit Lacoste shirts were seized from a multiple-warehouse and factory compound along McArthur Highway. Also seized were several boxes and sacks of finished and unfinished fake Lacoste shirts, neck labels, and hang tags. The 20-head embroidery machine alone has an estimated market value of PhP3.8 million.

This successful operation was led by the NBI Criminal Intelligence Division – Intelligence Services. In recent months, the NBI has been able to seize more than PhP100 million worth of counterfeit Lacoste shirts from its anti-counterfeiting operations in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, both in Metro Manila, Philippines.

This success is attributed to the continuing aggressive campaign launched by Lacoste S.A. against piracy. Bengzon Negre Untalan Intellectual Property Attorneys (BNU), Lacoste’s counsel and attorney-in-fact in the Philippines, is in charge of implementing this campaign, with the aid of government law enforcement agencies, such as the NBI, and the country’s top IP investigation firms.

The seizures conducted in the manufacturing facility were conducted on the strength of search warrants issued by the Vice-Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Manila. Lacoste shall file criminal charges against the owners of the manufacturing facility for violations of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (R.A. 8293).

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