Mar 31st, 03
COUNTERFEIT INVESTIGATIONS YIELD RESULTS IN MAYLASIA
10,000 Counterfeit Ink Cartridges Valued At RM1.2 Million
Representing Three Brands Seized In Malaysia
LEXINGTON, KY. The Imaging Supplies Coalition for International
Intellectual Property Protection (ISC) announced that approximately
10,000 finished and unfinished counterfeit ink cartridges worth 1.2
Million Malaysian Ringgit were seized from two manufacturing facilities
in the Jalan Permal Light Industrial Area in Taman Klang Utama on
Thursday March 13, 2003.
According to the Malaysian National News Agency, Selangor Domestic
Trade and Consumer Affairs Director, Zainal Abidin Mohd Noordin said
the enforcement division acted on complaints lodged by three major
producers of printer consumables, Canon, Epson and Hewlett-Packard.
“Apart from that we also seized several hundred sticker labels and
various parts to produce the ink cartridges, ink and equipment used to
refill the counterfeit consumables.”
He said that the manufacturers were believed to be producing the
imitation products for about a year using the Canon, Epson and Hewlett
Packard names and had imported the ink from China.
Apart from the local market, some of the product seized might have been
destined for Europe as the wording on the packaging was in German and
it was claimed that the products were manufactured in the Netherlands.
Commenting on the seizures, Senior Manager of Asia-Pacific Intellectual
Property Department for Canon, Takeshi Yamazaki, said, “Canon is
committed to protecting its intellectual property rights and warned
that Canon would take legal action or file complaints with the ministry
to take action against those who infringe Canon’s rights.”
The owner of both manufacturing facilities is being investigated under
the Trade Description Act of 1972 and if convicted is liable to a fine
up to RM 100,000 or imprisonment for up to three years.
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. Visit ISC website at isc-inc.org