CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit DVD Players Valued at $881,000
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 30, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from Laredo Port of Entry recently seized a shipment of DVD players valued at $881,000 that infringed on two trademarks recorded with CBP. CBP officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge Export Lot targeted a shipment containing DVD players bound for export for an enforcement examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered that the DVD players contained the DVD and Dolby Digital brand names, which are trademark recorded with CBP.
CBP officers working with import specialists from the Laredo Import Specialist Enforcement Team (ISET) detained the shipments pending verification of the trademark. The ISET determined that the trademark on the DVD players were counterfeit. In addition, the importer was unable to produce letters of authorization for the use of the DVD and Dolby Digital trademarks. CBP seized the merchandise on Aug. 24.
The merchandise seized included a combined total of 1,160 packages containing 5,800 DVD players. If the trademark had been genuine, the estimated domestic value of the DVDs would have been about $113,000 and the manufacturer’s suggested retail price $881,000.
“Our CBP officers and ISET team maintained their vigilance, and their tenacity and attention to detail resulted in the discovery of a shipment allegedly infringing on two trademarks recorded with CBP,” said Sidney Aki, CBP port director, Laredo . “Enforcing intellectual property rights law helps protect the American consumer and helps restore American economic competitiveness and ensure a level playing field for legitimate trademark holders.”
