IPRP Uncovered Some 5,000 Counterfeit Automobile Batteries. Some Have Been Put to Sale on Local Market.

Continued increase in the cost of metal materials worldwide is leading the price of related products to rise, including automobile batteries.  This makes counterfeiting an even lucrative business.  The Taichung team of the Intellectual Property Rights Police (IPRP) acted with the complaint filed by the trademark holder concerned on the information of some local supplier to import counterfeit automobile batteries for distribution in Taiwan.  As a result of the action taken on 7 October 2009, the IPRP seized a 5-container shipment of some 5,000 units of counterfeit batteries.  The IPRP received information indicating that a shipment of counterfeit batteries mark from Korea bearing the CENE was scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on 6 October 2009.  According to the relevant valuation, the shipment seized has a market value of about TWD20 million.

According to Zhang, representative of the consignee, the counterfeits were to be sold mainly to large local distributors for resale to automobile accessories shops and workshops.  Different models of genuine CENE batteries are retailed at a unit price ranging from TWD2,500 to TWD5,000.  The counterfeits distributed at some 40 shops island-wide are sold at a unit price TWD200~300 lower than the price of the relevant genuine CENE battery with their cost being only about TWD1,000~2,000 per unit.  About 400~500 units of the counterfeits are known to have been sold in Taiwan.

Qualified automobile parts are essential to driving safety.  Unlike genuine products made under strict manufacturing standards, counterfeits are generally fabricated under poor quality control.  Using automobile batteries with questionable safety may bring catastrophic results.  The IPRP has received praise for their success in this anti-counterfeiting action.  Zhang would be prosecuted on charges of, among other offenses, Trademark Act violation. (2009.10)
/EMA