Suspected Ringleader of Counterfeit Computer Network Equipment Finally Caught

In September a succesful joint operation was carried out by the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau and private security firm I-OnAsia. US$ 25 million worth of counterfeit computer network equipment (sold under international brands such as Nortel, Cisco Systems and Hewlett Packard) was seized and seven people were arrested in 10 raids carried out simultaneously across Shenzhen.

At the time the suspected ringleader, Tony Li Zhendong, got away. May 2 2, he was finally caught, after months of intensive surveillance by I-OnAsia.

A spokesperson for I-OnAsia said:
"After eight’s months tracking on the footprint of him by conducting surveillance and using technology such as GPRS technology, we and ECID [China's Economic Investigation Department] caught the right time to arrest him on the evening of 22 May 2007 in this new apartment in Shenzhen. He was then brought back to the Police Station and now detained for further enquiries and prosecution."

In the South China Morning Post of May 26th, Martin Wong and Nick Gentle report about the events. Read their article here.

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Bluetooth Earphones Infringement One of Shenzhen AIC' Top 10 IP Cases 2006

The Southern Daily of March 13, reports (in Chinese) that the Shenzhen Administration for Industry and Commerce (AIC) announced the top 10 Intellectual Property Protection Cases for the year 2006 in Shenzhen on 12 March 2007. The cases have involved in household appliances, mobile phones, medicines and general daily supplies. One of the top 10 cases concerns the infringement of Bluetooth earphones.

A co-operative effort between Bluetooth SIG Inc., the local authorities and Asia’s Brand Protection Consultancy, I-OnAsia Ltd has led to the arrest of principals of Shenzhen BlueBird Hi-Tech Company for Infringement of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc registered Trademark. This case has now been transferred to the Public Security Bureau for criminal prosecution.

On 17 July last year, the Administration for Industry and Commerce conducted a search on Shenzhen Bluebird Technology Ltd (深圳藍鳥科技有限公司) which was located on the 4/F, Fanen Building, No. 14, YueHua Road, MeiLinYueHua Industrial Park, FuTian Area. (福田區梅林越華工業區越華路14號凡恩大廈4樓) On-the-scene, 2868 pieces of suspected counterfeit “Bluetooth” earphones, 23,000 pieces of labels and 7,460 pieces of packaging material with infringed “Bluetooth” trademark were seized. Due to the fact that the litigant is not authorized and is presumed to have produced counterfeit “Bluetooth” earphones, the behavior has been suspected a crime. The bureau has then transferred this case to the Public Security Bureau for further criminal prosecution. Two suspects have been arrested.

Update: Derek Elmer, founding partner and chief executive officer of I-OnAsia takes a deeper look at the crackdown of counterfeit in this case, read here.

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Cooperation Instead of Conflict Urges James Tunkey of I-OnAsia About the WTO Case

James Tunkey, I-OnAsia's COO International, was not amused about the United States' filing of dispute settlement cases at the WTO involving China's IPR regime.

Tunkey: "Counterfeiting is a global problem whose solution necessitates international cooperation. Counterfeit products are manufactured in many countries. Indeed, the largest and most damaging counterfeit operations are truly global. Funding, technical expertise, access to raw materials as well as supply chain and product distribution management often all come from outside China."

"The increasing sophistication of these global networks presents a number of enforcement challenges. How do governments and companies muster the necessary resources to combat counterfeiters that operate across multiple borders, aided by the Internet?"

"[I]t is I-OnAsia's assessment that the answer is cooperation not dispute, and that a shift of the bilateral dialog from conflict to problem resolution is essential."

Read James Tunkey of I-OnAsia's comment on the WTO case here.

The software and pharmaceutical industriues in the US that recently booked some progress regarding IP protection are also against a WTO case. See here. They have something too lose, while the film, music and book industries have hardly any serious market access, so they do not have to fear retaliatory actions.

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Welcome I-OnAsia as Advertiser on IP Dragon

I-OnAsia is a global intelligence, security and risk consultancy, focused on Asia and Asian subjects. I-OnAsia’s corporate office was established in Hong Kong in 2001. I-OnAsia has three regional offices: in the United States, Australia and Jordan for MENA (the Middle East and North Africa). Besides, I-OnAsia has field offices in London, Poland, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Macau.

I-OnAsia offers anti-counterfeit services, integrity programmes, fraud investigations, forensics and recovery, safety and security programmes and commercial investigations.

Read more here.

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