Sidewalk Sales in NYC for Counterfeit Handbags – Closed.
No more sidewalk sales for counterfeit handbags in New York, at least for these two individuals. On June 11, 2010, two New York individuals were convicted for operating a massive international manufacturing, import and wholesale counterfeit goods business, states the Department of Justice.
Each person faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for each of two counts of trafficking in counterfeit handbags, wallets, purses and carry-on bags, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of two counts of illegally smuggling counterfeit goods into the U.S
So next time you stop to search for a good fake Fendi, just remember it’s a hefty fine for those sellers who get caught.
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China Builds Case Against U.S. Automakers
The Associated Press reports that China plans to investigate three U.S. automakers: GM, Chrysler and Ford on anti-dumping. Chinese officials believe many cars were imported below market value because of recent bail-out funds many received by the U.S. government. Steps could lead to higher tariffs for the automakers.
According to Steve Collins, president of industry trade group the American Automotive Policy Council, the U.S. only exports around 9,000 automobiles annually, so the increased tariff many not effect the auto industry too dramatically. GM manufactures and sells the majority of its cars sold within Chinese borders; therefore, the higher tariffs would not effect costs.
All three automakers could not comment as the documents are still being translated.
To read the full story, click here.
Illegal Logging in China
According to an U.K environmental watch dog organization called Global Witness, the U.S. and several European countries may have imported several billion dollars worth of illegal timber from China, that is most likely smuggling logs across its border from Myanmar.
The group states that illegal logging was still causing rapid destruction of Myanmar’s northeastern forests, with 270,000 cubic metres (9.5 million cubic ft) of logs and 170,000 cubic metres of sawn timber, most of which was illegal, smuggled into China’s Kunming province last year.
Government interventations have helped reduce the impact of the illegal timber.
To find out more information, please click here.
*all information in blog is sited from Reuters
U.S. Seeks New Ways to Ban Iran’s Black Gold
According to a new article in the Wall Street Journal, the United States seeks new ways to restrict Iran’s energy, transportation and financial sectors since last week when the United Nation members learned of a second nuclear- fuel facility.
The U.S. Treasury has considered many tactics in the past, but recently Congress has proposed a bill that will target any foreign firms aiding Iran’s oil and fuel sector. Iran lacks refining capabilities and needs to import around 40 percent of its gasoline; therefore, this bill could hurt Iran. The decision will be made by the end of the year.
The U.S. already has a ban from importing any of Iran’s oil, but many European countries as well as Japan are big customers. So, a proposed complete ban is unlikely.
“For sanctions to be effective, there has to be an international commitment,” says Adam Kaufmann, an assistant district attorney in Mr. Morgenthau’s office, who headed the Lloyds probe.
Furthermore, U.S. restrictions on companies doing business with Iran have excluded American firms, including in the oil and gas sector, and opened the door for other countries such as: Russian, European and Asian companies. U.S. officials say Tehran’s inability to refine its own petroleum products is an indication that the sanctions still have bite.
To read the full article, click here.
Counterfeit Cigs Goes Up in Smoke
The Associated Press has reported the International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned the import of fake cigerettes into the United States that appear to be counterfeit using the same trademark as tobacco company, Philip Morris. A complaint was filed in March to the ITC by representatives at Philip Morris to help in the effort to end the trade in counterfeit, stolen or under-taxed cigerettes entering the U.S.
Philip Morris, owned by Richmond, Va.-based Altria Group Inc., said in a statement that the order will help stop Internet-based vendors from illegally importing cigarettes made abroad without trademark owners’ permission and selling them in the United States.
Since the recent tax increase on tobacco products, grey markets, that sell under-taxed cigerettes to foreign markets, have been an alternative for tobacco users. But, these products are not created under that same health standards and do not carry a warning label.
To read the full article, click here.
ITC Judge Rules No Violation Against Tessera Case
Tessera loses its U.S. trade ruling to get licensing revenue from makers in computer chips. The U.S. Trade Commission judge ruled that the companies Tessera filed against were not in violation and did not infringe its patent rights.
No violation” has “occurred in the importation into the United States, the same for importation, or the sale within the United States,” Essex wrote.
Tessera plans to appeal this decision.
To read more about the case, click here.
Top Canadian Drug Company Receives Import Ban
The Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) placed a drug ban on Apotex, Inc, one of Canada’s largest drug manufacturers after a warning letter was sent in June stating issues it found after a company inspection.
According to the article,
The FDA suggested at the time, “demonstrates a lack of adequate process controls and raises significant concerns regarding the capability and reliability of (Apotex’s) processes to consistently manufacture drug products meeting predetermined specifications.”
The FDA said Apotex failed to investgate a number of failed batches and noted a high number of rejected batches. This ban comes after the FDA increased investgations of generic drug manufacturers.
To read the full article, click here
Toyota Faces Possible Import Ban on Prius
Paice LLC filed a compliant with the U.S. International Trade Commission(ITC) on September 3rd against Toyota on possible patent infringement and seeks to ban all products, such as Prius and other hybrid vechicles, to use its invention.
In 2005, Paice LLC won a seperate patent infringement suit against Toyota claiming its use of its inventation related to drivetrains in its Prius, Highlander and Lexus RX400h. The new compliant claims that Toyota uses its inventation in the Hybrid Camry, and two other Lexus models.
“Given the momentum Toyota hybrids have in the marketplace, I don’t foresee a situation where their hybrid sales stop,” said Ed Kim, an analyst at AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, California. “Toyota has been pretty good about looking ahead, so it would be surprising if they hadn’t foreseen and prepared for something like this.”
The investigation could take up to 15 months to complete. If the ITC finds in favor of Paice, then any infringed patents can be blocked from import into the United States.
To read the full article, click here.
*information for this blog was found on Bloomberg web site.
China Violates Import Free Trade Practices, Reports WTO
The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that the World Trade Organization has ruled favorably for the U.S. in its filing with China. The U.S. claimed that China violated import free trade practices by restricting imports of movies, music and books. This is a victory for the U.S. as it’s continued to deal with copyright piracy issues.
WTO has required China to stop requiring foreign media suppliers to go through costly importing process when distributing its goods. And, has also encouraged China to allow foreign markets to distribute media via the Web. This would help generate more revenue and visiablity for such companies, as Apple, Inc, if iTunes could expand into China.
For more information about this recent ruling, please click here.