The Daily Tribune (Philippines) 18th Dec 2005
NBI Agents seize P1.7-M fake ‘Lee’ brand T-shirts in raids
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized at least P1.7 million worth of fake “Lee” brand T-shirts following a series of raids conducted in Binondo, Manila and in Navotas City over the weekend.
The NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) under lawyer Jose Justo-Yap yesterday said the raids were conducted after receiving information that the owners of the establishments were selling the counterfeit Lee products.
The NBI operatives raided the retail outlet and factory-stockroom of Friendship RTW and Ranad Corp., owned by a certain Joan Tan (a.k.a. Chen Wei Mian) and Wilbert Tan (a.k.a. Willy Tan) and Teresita Palmas-Valdez, at Stall E-11, Juan Luna Plaza, Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila.
The IPRD agents then raided the factory-stockroom located at 22 Capulong St., San Rafael Village, Navotas City, Metro Manila.
Seized from the two establishments were several thousand pieces of counterfeit Lee T-shirts.But prior to the raids, the NBI agents placed the two establishments under surveillance and conducted test buys to confirm the evidence gathered through market-research firm Orion Support Inc. (OSI).
After confirming the sale of the fake T-shirts, the NBI obtained the corresponding search warrants from Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr.
The NBI said the owners of the raided establishment now face charges of trademark infringement and unfair competition.
Article written by:
Jun P. Yap
The Daily Tribune (Philippines)
fake lee brand t-shirts