Counterfeiting in Seattle: Need a Logo on that Kate Spade Purse?
The Seattle PI today ran a story about counterfeiting in Seattle. It said local police and federal agents last year served search warrants on 10 homes and businesses in one case and seized $242,000 and 7,873 alleged fakes from seven suspects. Not a bad haul.
I particularly like this account of undercover sleuthing: “Describing an undercover operation at a store owned by a man who later saw $180,000 seized, the detective said investigators found that most of the bags for sale there did not have tags sewn on. But, he alleged in court documents, the proprietor offered to add the tags when undercover officers moved to make a purchase.
”’(An undercover officer) asked the worker if the handbag on the wall was a ‘Kate Spade,” the detective said in court documents. ‘The worker stated that the handbag was in fact a ‘Kate Spade’ and that he could sell it to her. However, he needed to sew on a ‘Kate Spade’ logo for her.’”
Michael Atkins
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I have heard of something similar to this in China, where traders make bespoke designer badges to order. You pick your handbag then say whether you want a Gucci or a LV logo, for example, then a handyman in the back of the shop knocks one up for you. You can even pick your spelling! Many Chinese consumers are happier with a fake spelling (eg, Adidos) as it may have more humour value or may simply be the accepted 'correct' spelling of that brand for that non-English-speaking community.
More info in my article here:
"Chinese sham glam: innocuous innovation or mark-owner menace?"
http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=af36089a-9df6-4c13-907e-52ce9bbed60a&q=sham+#search=%22sham+%22
Cheers, Adam.