Peoples journal (Philippines) 18th December 2005
P8-M Fake toys seized
AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation seized some P8 million worth of counterfeit “Batman” comics and Superman” toys in a series of raids in Manila last Thursday.
Raided were the sales outlets and three stockrooms of MCDS General Merchandise owned by Eric Ty and Marites Siasat located at 142 Malaya Street, San Rafael Village, Tondo, Manila.
The NBI agents said that the 10,199 pieces of counterfeit toys seized during the raids looked real.
Investigation conducted by the NBI IPRD under lawyer Jose Justo-Yap showed that the DC Comics as represented by Quisumbing Torres law firm filed a complaint with the bureau against Ty and Siasat and other proprietors of MCDS General Merchandise.
The NBI agents placed the establishments under surveillance and conducted test buys after receiving initial information from market research firm Orion Support Inc., which represents the intellectual property rights of Warner Bros., the owners of the “Superman” and “Batman” trademarks in the Philippines.
Yap said the raids were conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24. The owners of the raided establishments were charged with violation of trademark infringement and unfair competition under Section 155 and 168, respectively of Republic Act 8293.
Hector Lawas
– Peoples Journal
fake toys seized