HARMAN International recently announced that authorities in Thailand and Brazil have
carried out a series of successful raids against numerous retail outlets and
warehouses selling counterfeit HARMAN consumer and professional audio products.
In Thailand, authorities confiscated more than 250 counterfeit JBL Professional
products and 175 counterfeit dbx products from a retail outlet and two related
warehouses and assembling places in Udon Thani. The fake products, including JBL
Professional speakers and multiple dbx products, were offered for sale through an
online website as well as a physical storefront. In two additional raids in Phuket,
authorities confiscated approximately 130 counterfeit JBL Professional speakers from
ten shops.
In Brazil, authorities confiscated more than 1,600 JBL consumer audio products,
including portable Bluetooth speakers. The raids followed more than one year of
surveillance by a specialised IP law firm hired by HARMAN to combat counterfeiting
worldwide.
“HARMAN is committed to protecting the integrity and image of its brands, and will
not hesitate to vigorously defend against the unauthorised use of its name, designs
and trademarks,’ said Jaakko Alajoki, legal IP specialist, HARMAN. “As demand for our
products continues to increase, we will continue to partner and cooperate with
investigators and law enforcement agencies around the world to safeguard our
intellectual property, and ensure that consumers are protected from counterfeit
products.’
According to recent studies, the rise of counterfeiting in the international trade market
not only damages a company’s brand, but it also generates serious risks to consumers
who buy products with inferior materials and construction. Counterfeiting also
damages the ability of authorised manufacturers, distributors and retailers to build
successful businesses and generate jobs by selling authentic, high-quality products.
Counterfeit goods often indirectly support factories that engage in abusive labour
practices, including the use of child and slave labour, unsafe working conditions,
excessive work hours, underpayment of wages and poor environmental practices.
Furthermore, studies show that organised crime groups and terrorist organisations are
directly funded through counterfeit sales.
As one of the leaders in the global audio marketplace, HARMAN is actively working
with official authorities worldwide to take aggressive action to deter counterfeiters. To
ensure consumers are purchasing a genuine HARMAN brand and not a counterfeit,
HARMAN encourages consumers to be vigilant and only purchase products through
authorised HARMAN resellers.
