China, U.S. crack transnational IPR infringement crime
China and the United States have cracked a transnational intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement case, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Wednesday. The MPS busted seven dens manufacturing, marketing and distributing counterfeit products and seized more than 3,000 fake brand-name leather products, bags and suitcases, glasses, watches and accessories.
A total of 36 suspects were arrested in the crackdown, who had sold fake products for more than 100 million yuan (about 15.1 million U.S. dollars).
Early this year, the public security department in southern China's city of Guangzhou discovered an English website selling fake goods, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Rolex brands, to the United States and other countries worldwide.
The MPS conducted a joint investigation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and found that besides purchasing and producing fake products, the criminal gang operated a logistics company to pack and clear the goods.
In the meantime, the United States launched an investigation targeting those who made large orders, and invited the MPS to investigate and collect evidence concerning the criminal network and their website server, which was hosted in the United States.
China and the United States have maintained communication and cooperation on cross-border IPR infringement crime in recent years, and will maintain zero tolerance on transnational crime, according to the MPS.