Amazon websites risk inclusion in US counterfeit blacklist: WSJ

The Trump administration is considering putting some of Amazon.com Inc's overseas websites on a list of global marketplaces known for counterfeit goods, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The action would be taken by the US Trade Representative's Office through its annual "Notorious Markets" list, the report said, adding that no decisions have been made and that similar proposals last year were eventually discarded.

Amazon said it "strictly prohibits" counterfeit products on its platforms and invests heavily to protect customers from such items.

"Combating counterfeit requires collaboration across the industry - from retailers, brands, law enforcement, and government and we continue to be actively engaged with these stakeholders as we hold bad actors accountable and drive counterfeit to zero in our store," the company said in a statement.

The US Trade Representative's Office (USTR) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Over the years, the list has included China's largest e-commerce platform, Taobao.com, which is owned and operated by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

In October, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), for the second year in a row, urged the USTR to include foreign domains owned and operated by Amazon on the list.

The trade body counts some of the largest retailers and brands such as Macy's Inc and Adidas AG among its members.

"Despite its role as a leader in the worldwide retail landscape, and as an important selling partner for many of our member brands, Amazon continues to present significant counterfeit challenges," AAFA said in its submission to the USTR in October.

In response to AAFA, Amazon said it invested more than $400 million in personnel and employed over 5,000 people in 2018 to fight fraud and counterfeiting in its stores.

The White House declined to comment.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Gucci, YSL sue Alibaba over counterfeit goods

NEW YORK - A group of luxury goods makers sued Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Friday, contending the Chinese online shopping giant had knowingly made it possible for counterfeiters to sell their products throughout the world.

The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court by Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands owned by Paris-based Kering SA seeking damages and an injunction for alleged violations of trademark and racketeering laws.

The lawsuit alleged that Alibaba had conspired to manufacture, offer for sale and traffic in counterfeit products bearing their trademarks without their permission.

A spokesman for Alibaba, Bob Christie, said in a statement:

"We continue to work in partnership with numerous brands to help them protect their intellectual property, and we have a strong track record of doing so. Unfortunately, Kering Group has chosen the path of wasteful litigation instead of the path of constructive cooperation. We believe this complaint has no basis and we will fight it vigorously."

Concerns over fake products on Alibaba's platforms, including online marketplace Taobao, have dogged it for years, although the U.S. Trade Representative removed Taobao from its list of "notorious markets" in 2012 in light of progress made.

Friday's lawsuit marked the second time in less than a year that the Kering brands had sued Alibaba over the alleged sale of counterfeit products.

An earlier lawsuit was filed in July only to be withdrawn the same month with the ability to refile it while the Kering units worked toward a resolution with Alibaba, according to court records.

The lawsuit alleged that Alibaba and its related entities "provide the marketplace advertising and other essential services necessary for counterfeiters to sell their counterfeit products to customers in the United States."

The lawsuit cited, for example, an alleged fake Gucci bag offered for $2 to $5 each by a Chinese merchant to buyers seeking at least 2,000 units. The authentic Gucci bag retails for $795, the complaint said.

Alibaba has allowed for counterfeit sales to continue even when it had been expressly informed that merchants were selling fake products, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit seeks a court order that, among other things, would block Alibaba from offering or facilitating the sale of counterfeit products and unspecified damages that could include $2 per counterfeit item under a statutory regime.

The case is Gucci America Inc v. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.15-03784.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Over 150,000 pairs of fake Nike, Adidas shoes destroyed

MANILA, Philippines - Over 150,000 pairs of counterfeit Nike, Adidas and Converse shoes, as well as other popular footwear brands, were destroyed by the Bureau of Customs on Tuesday.

In a statement, the BOC said the thousands of China-made fake shoes, worth an estimated P50 million, were smuggled into the country last year.

The haul of fake Nike, Adidas, Converse, Sketchers, Northface, Leaveland, Merelle, Lacoste, Vans, Havaianas, and Ipanema products were seized from a warehouse in Olivares Compound in Parañaque City last February 2014.

"These counterfeit shoes and slippers were smuggled from China and were part of a big raid we had last year inside the Olivarez Compound in Parañaque City. We seized the warehouse to check the legality of the importation of goods but the owner failed to produce proof of payment of duties and taxes from Customs, consequently, the warehouse was padlocked and sealed for BOC custody," Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said.

The one-year gap between the seizure and the actual destruction of the smuggled products was attributed to the long process that included issuance of subpoenas to the concerned consignees and brokers, the need to secure the involvement of brand owners, and the conduct of hearings in accordance with existing regulations.

Sevilla said the shipments were subject to a series of hearings, but the claimant did not send any representative. This means the fake items have been forfeited and should be destroyed.

The BOC chief said the agency destroyed the fake products so it would not find its way in the market.

“We will not allow the Philippines to be a dumping ground of counterfeit goods. The BOC will ensure that manufacturers and distributors of genuine brands are protected. We are urging the public not to buy counterfeit products. Tigilan na po natin ito. Kapag wala pong tumatangkilik wala din pong bibili ng fake," Sevilla said.

Last April 2014, the BOC also destroyed more than 200 boxes of shoes imported from China after they were found to be fake at the Port of Davao.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Report: 130+ domain names taken down in piracy crackdown

United States authorities took down some 130 domain names as they continued to crack down on counterfeit and piracy-related websites.

The latest crackdown took place just a few days before “Cyber Monday,” according to an article on Torrentfreak.com.

It said the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have resumed “Operation In Our Sites,” the domain name seizing initiative designed to crack down on online piracy and counterfeiting.

According to Torrentfreak.com, the new round comes a year after 82 domains, including Torrent-Finder, were taken over in 2010.

Cyber Monday refers to the Monday following Thanksgiving where consumers are persuaded to shop online.

TorrentFreak posted on its site a list of some 130 domains taken over by the US government in the last 24 hours.

"The authorities have yet to comment via official channels, but we assume that they will use the same justification for the domain seizures as they did last year," it said.

TorrentFreak also noted that this year's action appears to be limited to sites that directly charge visitors for their services.

It said most of the domains are linked to the selling of counterfeit clothing (such as 17nflshop.com), and at least one (autocd.com) sold pirated auto software.

"Last year several sites were taken down because they allowed their users to access free music and movie downloads, and these were followed by several streaming services a few months later. No similar sites have been reported in the current round," TorrentFreak said.

On the other hand, many torrent site owners began to work on backup plans in case they too become a target, after the November 2010 seizures were covered widely in the press.

A few dozen sites have switched over to alternative domains, and other torrent site operators have purchased additional backup domains just in case.

A separate article on CNET noted most of the domain names suggest sites that traffic in counterfeit clothing items: cheap-louisvuitton-replica.com, nfljerseyswhole.com, uggbootsclearanceoutletstores.com, and so on.

"The list is also sprinkled with names that suggest digital piracy: dvdsetonline.com, for example," it added. —MRT/LBG, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com