| Counterfeit Action Update - March 2003 | |
| action against counterfeit manufacturers | |
| Australia • Belgium • Bulgaria China • Czech Republic • Germany • Hong Kong • Malaysia • Singapore • South Africa • Turkey | |
 |
Australia |
|
December 2002 Saab Appliances Saab Appliances, local importers of electrical appliances, imported kettles branded Belle EC13 which were fitted with counterfeit STRIX controls manufactured by Yong Heng of Shunde in China. Subsequent action to enforce STRIX Intellectual property resulted in their removal from sale and balance of the order returned to China. Hot Pot Pty Hot Pot, also an importer of copy fitted kettles were the subject of further STRIX action against Hot Pot branded kettles. These kettles were fitted with copies of the STRIX system. Sales were ceased. |
|
 |
Belgium |
|
December 2002 Patent Infringement action taken against copyist importer Tristar bv of Holland. The case is expected to reach completion in 2003. |
|
 |
Bulgaria |
|
November 2002 Sapir brand kettles fitted with copies of the STRIX control system have been tested and proved to be unable to comply to the applicable standards by the Electrical Industry Test Laboratory in Sofia. The matter is now being referred to the Government Consumer protection Agency for enforcement. |
|
 |
China |
|
Guangzhou (Canton) Export Commodities Fair October 2002 Guangdong Province Intellectual Property officers operating at the fair seized 35 infringing products from 15 display booths. All products infringed STRIX Intellectual property. Ningbo Sunlight Electricity Production Company Limited October 2002 Warning letter delivered to Sunlight to demand Sunlight stop a potential infringement of STRIX Intellectual Property in their manufacture of a kettle control system. SEB China January 2003 STRIX and SEB China are co-operating to combat the manufacture of electric kettles infringing both SEB and STRIX intellectual property. The Chinese Government authorities have been informed of Chinese companies manufacturing slavish copies of the Tefal Vitesse and Rowenta Cosmos kettles which incorporate controls systems which infringe STRIX IPR and are unable to conform to IEC safety standards. Guangdong Province Customs Inspection January 2003 STRIX held a seminar with Customs, Legal and Inspection departments of Guangzhou, Nanghai, Foshan, Shunde and Panyu cities to explain the nature of its registered Chinese Invention and Design Patents and how to recognise infringements. Further seminars are planned in other provinces throughout 2003. |
|
 |
Czech Republic |
|
November 2002 The Beam WK 801 kettles sold into the Czech Republic by importers Zasobovani Obchodu and removed from sale on safety grounds, have been recommended for recall by the Czech Business Inspectorate. These kettles were fitted with Yong Heng controls which allowed easy consumer access to live electrical parts. A subsequent design modification to this dangerous system was refused at a Cenelec Operational Staff Meeting at Budapest in June 2002. A further kettle, Brand BEAM 810 has appeared on the market fitted with a copy of the STRIX U18 control system and is currently under evaluation by the authorities. STRIX testing confirms this kettle is unable to comply with IEC and EN standards. Czech Business Inspectorate are sampling and testing kettles fitted with copy controls from the Czech Market in a nationwide operation and enforcement is expected in January 2003. |
|
 |
Germany |
|
January 2003 Hometech 2002 housewares exhibition in Berlin saw German Customs authorities removal from display of kettles fitted with copies of the STRIX control system. Copy control manufacturer Yong Heng complained about alleged statements made by STRIX at the fair about Yong Heng products and attempted to obtain a Preliminary Injunction against STRIX. A preliminary injunction was served but was proven invalid in the Berlin court. STRIX and court costs were awarded against Yong Heng. For Hometech 2004 organisers are taking steps to ensure counterfeiters will not be permitted to exhibit. Guangzhou manufacturer Jin Lun also failed in an attempt to obtain an injunction to prevent STRIX from continuing to make statements it made about Jin Lun at the Hometech Fair. |
|
 |
Hong Kong |
|
Evergreen Electric Company January 2002 In January 2002 Evergreen Electric Company Limited of Hong Kong was found to be supplying kettles incorporating counterfeit STRIX controls to Fortress, Broadway and Tai Lin Radio Service retail outlets. Evergreen acknowledged the infringement and: (a) executed a Deed of Undertaking against future infringement; (b) delivered up its remaining stock of infringing kettles; (c) paid costs and damages; (d) provided a Statutory Declaration disclosing its source and dealings in the infringing kettles; and (e) published an apology in a major local Chinese language newspaper (Sing Tao Daily) on 3 May 2002. The retailers concerned were advised of the situation. Hong Kong Electronics Fair October 2002 Hong Kong Trade Development Council removed 41 kettles fitted with counterfeit STRIX controls from 10 exhibition booths at Hong Kong Electronic Fair. In private actions thereafter STRIX served 14 cease and desist orders on the companies exhibiting infringing product and removed 19 kettles. In the China Household Electrical Appliance Fair, neighbouring the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, all infringing kettles were removed from sale. |
|
 |
Malaysia |
|
January 2003 More than 50 brands and types of plastic and stainless steel kettles of local manufacture have had sanctions imposed by the Malaysian Energy Commission (formerly known as JBEG). Products have either been withdrawn from sale or recalled from the market. The local manufacturer has had his Sirim license to manufacture suspended. Brands Elba and Faber no longer offer for sale plastic jug kettles fitted with copy controls. All these products were found on the market fitted with copies of the STRIX control system and were proven to be unable to comply with Malaysian Safety Standards. A further series of testing is underway on 11 new entries into the market with Sirim the Malaysian test and certification body. Results are expected in January 2003 with enforcement from the Malaysian Energy Commission. |
|
 |
Singapore |
|
January 2003 Toyomi branded kettles have been removed from sale from 3 major retail outlets. These kettles were fitted with counterfeit STRIX controls and infringe STRIX Intellectual Property. Cease and desist orders have been issued and letters of apology are being sought. |
|
 |
South Africa |
|
January 2003 Singer SGK 200 electric kettles were withdrawn from sale from Hi Fi Corporation stores on January 7th. The remaining stock will be delivered up to STRIX for disposal. These kettles were fitted with controls manufactured by Yong Heng from Shunde in China which infringe STRIX intellectual property. |
|
 |
Turkey |
|
March 2003 Collaboration between TSE, the local testing and standards institute, and the Directorate for Standardisation and foreign trade, has meant that kettles fitted with unsafe controls are prevented from entering the country. |
|
|
help to promote consumer safety |
|
| Return to News Index | |