Store Owner Arrested and Charged with Selling Counterfeit Golf Equipment

The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (the “Anti-Counterfeiting Group”) reports that on September 14, the Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) conducted a successful raid leading to the arrest of the owner of a golf equipment store at the Beijing Yashow Market and the seizure of thousands of counterfeit golf products.

The Yashow Market is one of several shopping centers in Beijing that are frequented by tourists and others in search of bargains on “brand-name” products, including golf clubs, balls, shoes, apparel and other accessories. After the Anti-Counterfeiting Group notified the PSB that illegal copies of genuine golf products were being sold at the market, the PSB conducted an extensive investigation and seized 7,747 counterfeit golf clubs, balls, shoes, hats, gloves, bags, caps and other accessories. The local pricing bureau determined that the value of the seized clubs and other counterfeit equipment was $850,746 (USD) or 5,738,340 (RMB) based upon the retail price of authentic goods. A criminal detention warrant was then issued for Mr. Wei Si-xu, the owner of Booth No. 4155 at the market.

As part of the investigation, the PSB uncovered a warehouse where hundreds of counterfeit golf products were being stored for future sale at the market. PSB officers utilized sophisticated surveillance techniques to track the suspect and identify the warehouse.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group commends the PSB officers for their cooperation and exceptional effort in stopping the sale of counterfeit golf products at the Yashow Market. The Group believes that the raid should pave the way for future enforcement action against other vendors of counterfeit golf products at similar markets in Beijing.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group consists of the world’s leading golf equipment manufacturers. Its members and brands include Acushnet Company – Titleist and FootJoy; Callaway Golf – Odyssey, Top-Flite and Ben Hogan; Cleveland Golf /Srixon and Never Compromise; Nike Golf; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group was formed in 2004 to petition governments to enforce their country’s laws against counterfeiters of golf equipment products. As a result of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group’s petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of manufacturing, warehouse, assembly and retail facilities have been executed by Chinese law enforcement and civil enforcement authorities over the past six years. Many business operators have been arrested and have now been prosecuted and sentenced in the Chinese courts.

For more information, please contact the Anti-Counterfeiting Group’s legal counsel, Wayne Mack of Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 979-1152

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