Feb 7th, 03
158,000 Counterfeit Imaging Supplies Products Valued At $10 Million Representing Nine Brands Seized In Three Countries
LEXINGTON, KY. The Imaging Supplies Coalition for International Intellectual Property Protection (ISC) launched product training and investigations for seven Latin American countries with meetings held for government officials, prosecutors, investigators and law firms at Lexmark in Coral Gables FL. and Epson in El Paso TX. April 10-12, 2002.
“We are beginning to see significant results of the investments the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) have made in product training and investigations. The joint investigations funded by the OEM’s have proven that even as they compete in the marketplace the OEM’s can work together and with country governments to solve this common problem that adversely impacts all of the industry stakeholders.” said Bill Duffy, ISC President and CEO. “It also proves that these governments are willing to work with the brand owners by acting responsibly to limit counterfeiting as required by their membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO.)”
The quick results came from raids conducted by the governments of Paraguay, Peru and Colombia, in cooperation with the OEM’s and their investigators.
Following is a summary of the recent raids:
September 13, 2002, Bogotá, Colombia
Raids on four locations by the Fiscal & two assistants along with 36 Judicial & Customs Police (POLFA) resulted in the seizure of 38,061 ink and laser cartridges, 17,795 ribbons along with machinery, packaging, parts and other items used to counterfeit products for the following OEM brands; Brother, Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark,
Oki Data, and three others. The estimated retail value of the products seized is $5 Million (US). A Colombian citizen was also arrested and detained by the Police.
November 19, 2002, Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay
Raids conducted by the Fiscal & 5 Assistants joined by 24 Special Forces Police (GOE) on seven retail and warehouse locations resulted in the seizure of 36,951 Canon and Epson Counterfeit ink cartridges, counterfeit holograms, packaging and tape. The estimated retail value of the products seized is $820,000. (US). The Police detained one Brazilian national and two Paraguayan nationals.
November 21, 2002, Lima Peru
3 Fiscals Prosecutors, 200 uniformed Police of the Anti Riot units and 60 Fiscal Police Officers raided twenty-three retail locations. 8436 counterfeit Canon and Hewlett-Packard ink cartridges valued at $250,000 (US) were seized in the raids.
December 19, 2002, Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay
In a follow on to the November 19, 2002 raids an additional seven retail and warehouse locations were raided by Judge Pedro Mayor Martinez, Fiscal Pedro Olevar officers and 24 Special Forces Police (GOE). Over 60,000 counterfeit Canon, Epson and Hewlett-Packard inkjet and toner cartridges, value at $3.8Million (US) were seized. Also seized were counterfeit packaging, holograms, sealing machines and other equipment used in the counterfeiting operations.
Sharon Kreps, Epson America Channel Marketing Manager, and Chair of the ISC commenting on the initial successes said “ We at Epson and the other members of the ISC want to send a clear message that we are willing to provide the necessary resources needed to stop this illegal activity. We are all committed to protecting our valuable brands, our customers and reseller channels and thousands of legitimate businesses engaged in the imaging supplies industry around the world.”
A case study presentation on these investigations will be presented at the upcoming ISC Conference, May 4-6, 2003 in Miami Beach.
The ISC would like to thank our investigators, who chose to remain anonymous due to the on-going nature of the investigations, and the many government officials in Colombia, Paraguay and Peru for their fine work and support.
For further information please contact the ISC at (859) 278-3032 or via e-mail at ISCDuffy@aol.com Or visit our website.
The Imaging Supplies Coalition for International Intellectual Property Protection, Inc. is a non-profit association of imaging supplies Original Equipment Manufacturers. Coalition members are Brother International Corp., Canon U.S.A., Inc, Epson America Inc., Katun Corporation, Lexmark International, Inc., Oki Data Corporation, Sharp Electronics Corporation, Toshiba America Business Solutions, and Xerox Corporation.