The Daily Tribune 6th August 2006
NBI Agents seize P4.2-M fake Warner Bros. product
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have seized P4.2.million worth of fake Warner Bros. (WB) T-shirts following a series of raids conducted in Manila and Quezon City last Thursday.
The NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) yesterday said the confiscated T-shirts depicted characters with the WB trademark such as “Looney Tunes”, “Superman”, and “Batman.”
According to IPRD agent Carlos Borromeo III, the raids stemmed from the evidence submitted by market research firm Orion Support Inc. (OSI).
First to be raided was the sales outlet of Bluechiq Fashion Haus of Johnson Uy, Aileen Uy and Aglyn de Garcia located at Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila.
Also raided was the factory of Goldwin Enterprises of Glenn Manuel Co, Arlyn Co and Glenn Manuel Located at 35 Don Ramon St., TalayanVillage, Quezon City. Seized from the two establishments were 13,748 counterfeit “Looney Tunes,” “Superman” and “Batman” T-shirts, one High-speed Mitsubishi machine and one QILI cutting machine used in the manufacture of counterfeit Warner Bros. products.
Prior to the raids, the NBI agents placed the establishments under surveillance operations and conducted test buys to confirm the evidence gathered by OSI.
The OSI and the NBI also simultaneously conducted several investigative activities that confirmed the illicit activities, leading the NBI to obtain the corresponding warrants from Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 33 Executive Judge Reynaldo Ros.
Charges Of Trademarks infringement and unfair competition under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 8293 are being prepared against the owner of the raided establishment.
Jun P. Yap
