Knockoff News 76
It's been a while -- but Knockoff News is back by popular demand (thanks, Likelihood of Confusion!). Here's the latest collection of news about counterfeits, fakes, knockoffs, replicas, imitations, and the culture of copying in general around the globe:
- Kid rules: Teen trademark owner seeks deal with Obama for "Change Rocks" (HT: Markenblog)
- Yankee go home: Britney Spears buys fake Gucci in Mexico
- Defense: Mexico teams up with NFL to fight flood of football fakes
- Piece of the action: China's fake market creates own SILKSTREET brand
- Cultural Revolution: From Mao jackets to Mao Jordan
- Zero tolerance: Olympic fans face penalties for departing China with fake souvenirs
- Impossible dream: Does the World Customs Organization have any power to stop fakes?
- Runaway: Fugitive executive shows difficulty of prosecuting Chinese countefeiters
- Hong Kong phooey: Fakes flourish despite crackdown
- Virtual murk: Real and fake and imaginary and authentic
- Burnt offering: Fake fashion set aflame in Viet Nam to clothe deceased relatives
- GI bill: Registration of Tassar silk, handloom designs may benefit poor Indian states
- India ink: Colors leak from fashionable fakes
- Watch out: New Swiss law allows Customs to confiscate tourists' fake goods
- Out of Africa: Transit routes main concern to World Customs Organizations
- Fair trade: New Tanzania law allows raids on shops
- Positive thinking: Zimbabwe re-launches Anti-Piracy Organization
- Blue Christmas: Kampala fashion merchant loses profits to street vendors selling fakes
- Crimestoppers' textbook: UK issues new report on counterfeiting
- Class war: British man avoids jail after attorney argues Nike not harmed
- Fossil fueled: Watch company signs anti-counterfeiting deal with tech firm
- Faces in a crowd: Will new counterfeit tech be killer app?
- CAT fight: Company creates Counterfeit Abatement Team
- Counterfeit delenda est: Tunisian firm announces holographic label deal
- India ink: Colors leak from fashionable fakes
- Sticker shock: Counterfeit eyeglasses have fake UV protection labels
- Sheik down: The real cost of counterfeits in the Middle East
- UAE hosts first Arab IP conference
- UAE to host 4th global anti-piracy conference
- Sandstorm: Trade group estimates cost of fakes to UAE
- Checkpoint charleyhorse: Maltese Customs denies harassing importers from Sicily
- Gateway drugs: From CDs and handbags to toxic toys and fake pharmaceuticals
- Bubbles burst: Belgium liquidates U.S. "champagne"
- Learning center: LVMH chooses anti-counterfeiting training software
- Forget it, Jake: Private eye fights fakes in Chinatown
- Lacking luxury: No authentic Vuitton, Coach dealers in Houston County, GA
- Southern exposure: Lower penalties attract fake trade to Virginia, claims assemblyman
- Congratulations? DVD/BVD decision makes TTABlog's 10 worst
- Prizes for everyone: Marimekko wins award for effective trademark protection
- Wings of desire: Web store offers special order Hermes (HT: pMdM)
- European counterfeiting in full swing
- Uncivil obedience: Artist takes on Shepard Fairey's appropriation art (HT: Patry)
- Y the F: FYBY loses registration battle with FUBU
- What a pair: L'Eggs successfully opposes registration of Legstick
- Google couture? A faux photo gallery from Le Petit Musee des Marques
- Police report:
- Southern justice: Three indicted in Richmond
- Knockoff ring bagged in New York
- Tampa tipster tabs trailer trashers
- Secondhand woes: Arrested fake sellers defend selves by citing sources
- Rochdale counterfeit seller faces prison
- Lincolnshire police blitz market
- Footy goods vendor given the boot
- Barking police mad
- Dorset duo faces jail time
- Bacon in Macon sentenced to jail
- Chicago sheriff corrals second shipment of fakes
And finally, longtime Counterfeit Chic readers will remember Johnny Cupcakes and his ardent admirer, Urban Outfitters. It seems there's now another clothing conglomerate that finds Johnny's tasty treats too delicious to resist:
If ever copyright infringement could cause cavities, this would be the case.