Protecting our shores from the constant threat of copyright infringement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations seized a shipment of counterfeit toys valued at $121,442 at a Charleston port.
Arriving in late June from China and headed to an importer based in North Carolina, Customs officials say the shipment contained multiple items bearing trademarks and copyrights registered to Cartoon Network, Apple, Saban, and Danjaq LLC, owners of the rights to James Bond intellectual properties. For those who can’t tell a Megazord from a Putty Patroller, Saban Brands holds the copyrights to the Power Rangers.
Suspecting the goods weren’t quite on the level, the CBP contacted the actual owners of the intellectual properties being infringed upon and determined that the 284 cartons of toys were counterfeit.
“Counterfeiting robs lawful rights holders of their unique ideas and the ability to make a profit from them,” said Robert Fencel, CBP Charleston area port director, in a press release. “It damages legitimate manufacturers and can harm consumers because manufacturers of counterfeit items have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products. In essence, they’re trying to make a ‘quick buck’ off of another party’s reputation and ideas.”
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