Columbia Sportswear "Succesful" In Reducing Counterfeits in China

Ms Laura Wood writes in MarketWatch that Columbia Sportswear Company, a manufacturer of active outdoor apparel (which included the brands Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Pacific Trail and Sorel) has been succesful in implementing an anti-counterfeiting programme with local, national and international law enforcement agencies and that "[i]n 2007 it staged 60 successful raids on factories manufacturing counterfeit products in China."

Read Ms Wood's article here.

UPDATE: My plan was to interview the people of Columbia Sportswear Company so the details could be uncovered. After Mr Richard Gould's critical comment, I am confirmed that this is a good idea. Mr Gould is working for CBI Consulting, a provider of business & competitive intelligence, investigations and brand protection in China, commented that the number of raids does not necessarily correlate with success in anti-counterfeiting. He is absolutely right (if the number of infringements increases faster than it is deterred/reduced by raids).

He assumes the 60 raids were administrative (he based his assumption on overall Anti-Counterfeiting Statististics for China in 2007. I agree again.

Mr Gould wrote: "It would be interesting if Columbia could provide more substantial proof to indicate a decline in counterfeiting of their brands. Sales figures, market survey results, punishment decisions, civil cases, etc." Thanks for the comment Richard. I hope I can ask questions about it to the legal department of Columbia Sportswear Company.