Do you think that this will trickle down to catch cans, tuners, blowers, exhaust systems and so on? This is just a follow on to the post by one of our sponsors last week.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/sema...3AAF5AC7515E153BDAB9E900006F9986D08DE517B26E3
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is the best place to score the latest aftermarket parts. Evidently, it’s also a great place to get busted for hawking fake products. U.S. Marshals busted six Chinese vendors for allegedly peddling knock-off Jeep parts, reports our friends at FourWheeler.
The world’s largest Jeep accessory manufacturer, Omix-ADA, spotted the so-called fake goods on display at this year’s show by Unity 4WD Accessories Company of Guangzhou, China.
Subpoenas were served to two Chinese company booths in the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center alleging multiple copyright and trademark violations of Omix-branded products. Fake bumpers, grilles, and electronics were seized.
Marshals also raided four other companies that were shut down at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), according to Omix-Ada.
Marshals also raided four other companies that were shut down at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), according to Omix-Ada.
“This is something we were aware of (before SEMA) and we talked with SEMA about how do we go through the steps because we don’t want to upset the industry at an event like this,” said Henk Van Dongen, Omix-ADA’s Director of Marketing in a statement on the company’s blog.
The Suwanee, Ga.-based company got a lawyer, gathered evidence, and found a sympathetic judge.
“Normally they have a hearing and those companies would be served and then have to show up for another hearing – and if they don’t show up then we win, but the judge took one look at the paperwork and said there is no denying this,” Van Dongen added.
Automotive News spoke with Peter MacGillivray, VP of SEMA events, who told them if the companies whose displays were seized “are found at fault, they will not be coming back to SEMA.”
The raid took place on the second day of SEMA just as the doors were opened and caught the alleged counterfeiters by surprise.
“This is obviously about our product line and intellectual property because we need to protect our customers and retailers. But it’s not just about Omix and Rugged Ridge, it’s something that is industry-wide and something that has been building up and becoming more and more rampant over the past two to three years,” said Van Dongen.
Omix-ADA is moving forward with legal action against these six companies and they will be required to appear in U.S. court in three weeks for a hearing according to sources.
“We’ll have to see how far we can legally pursue the companies that we dealt with today and we’re going to be vigilant going forward,” Van Dongen said. “It’s slow going, we’re just getting started with this but you can see we are focused on it. It’s a little like playing whack a mole, and hopefully if we whack them one time too many, then they won’t be coming back.”
http://www.motortrend.com/news/sema...3AAF5AC7515E153BDAB9E900006F9986D08DE517B26E3
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is the best place to score the latest aftermarket parts. Evidently, it’s also a great place to get busted for hawking fake products. U.S. Marshals busted six Chinese vendors for allegedly peddling knock-off Jeep parts, reports our friends at FourWheeler.
The world’s largest Jeep accessory manufacturer, Omix-ADA, spotted the so-called fake goods on display at this year’s show by Unity 4WD Accessories Company of Guangzhou, China.
Subpoenas were served to two Chinese company booths in the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center alleging multiple copyright and trademark violations of Omix-branded products. Fake bumpers, grilles, and electronics were seized.
Marshals also raided four other companies that were shut down at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), according to Omix-Ada.
Marshals also raided four other companies that were shut down at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), according to Omix-Ada.
“This is something we were aware of (before SEMA) and we talked with SEMA about how do we go through the steps because we don’t want to upset the industry at an event like this,” said Henk Van Dongen, Omix-ADA’s Director of Marketing in a statement on the company’s blog.
The Suwanee, Ga.-based company got a lawyer, gathered evidence, and found a sympathetic judge.
“Normally they have a hearing and those companies would be served and then have to show up for another hearing – and if they don’t show up then we win, but the judge took one look at the paperwork and said there is no denying this,” Van Dongen added.
Automotive News spoke with Peter MacGillivray, VP of SEMA events, who told them if the companies whose displays were seized “are found at fault, they will not be coming back to SEMA.”
The raid took place on the second day of SEMA just as the doors were opened and caught the alleged counterfeiters by surprise.
“This is obviously about our product line and intellectual property because we need to protect our customers and retailers. But it’s not just about Omix and Rugged Ridge, it’s something that is industry-wide and something that has been building up and becoming more and more rampant over the past two to three years,” said Van Dongen.
Omix-ADA is moving forward with legal action against these six companies and they will be required to appear in U.S. court in three weeks for a hearing according to sources.
“We’ll have to see how far we can legally pursue the companies that we dealt with today and we’re going to be vigilant going forward,” Van Dongen said. “It’s slow going, we’re just getting started with this but you can see we are focused on it. It’s a little like playing whack a mole, and hopefully if we whack them one time too many, then they won’t be coming back.”
