HA NOI — A business owner selling counterfeit cigarette lighters and lighter fluid in violation of the US’ Zippo trademark was administratively fined by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Tuesday.
Inspectors and police found about 1,900 counterfeit lighters and 1,100 fluid cans pasted with the Zippo trademark at the Duy Hoang Shop in Nguyen Huu Huan Street in Ha Noi. Shop owner Phung Duy Hai will pay a fine of around VND5 million (US$320) and all merchandise bearing a false trademark will be confiscated and destroyed.
Hai said he had bought the violating goods on the open market and did not know their origin.
The Zippo trademark violation was discovered in Ha Noi by the ministries of science and technology and of public security after representatives of the US’s Zippo Co in Viet Nam complained of violations of their intellectual property rights.
The Zippo trademark has been protected in Viet Nam since 1996 following trademark certification granted by the National Office of Industrial Property.
A Zippo Co official said the HCM City Market Watch Team had discovered and handled two cases of Zippo trademark violations. Both counterfeit and authentic Zippo lighters were on display at a trade fair in Ha Noi two months ago.
Nguyen Thi Thuy, director of Zippo Vietnam’s Authorised Agent in Ha Noi, said authentic Zippo lighters are only sold in Ha Noi at 48 Tue Tinh Street.
Administrative fines for trademark violations are authorised by a Government decision made in 1999. Inspectors from the Ministry of Science and Technology would continue to co-ordinate with relevant authorities to handle violations of intellectual property rights, the ministry said. — VNS
Source: VietNam News
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