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.
Hi Danny,Appreciate the response and the update!Best,Richard
Thanks Richard,I updated the article and hope to interview the people from Columbia Sportswear Company.Cheers,Danny FriedmannIP DragonGathering, commenting on and sharing information about intellectual property in China to make it more transparent, since 2005http://ipdragon.blogspot.com
Number of raids does not necessarily correlate with success in anti-counterfeiting. The article also does not differentiate admin versus criminal raids, although we can assume the majority of the 60 raids were administrative, based on overall anti-counterfeiting statistics for China in 2007.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.