Lacoste USA announced the seizure of more than $1 million worth of counterfeit Lacoste merchandise in raids conducted as part of a sweep of illegal wholesale and retail warehouses in mid-town Manhattan this week. The surprise raids, which netted almost 13,000 units of counterfeit Lacoste goods were conducted by the New York City Police Department's 13th Precinct and the Mayor's Midtown Task Force, in conjunction with Lacoste's private investigators.
“We're sending a strong message to counterfeiters everywhere,” said Robert Siegel, chairman & CEO of Lacoste USA. “We intend to aggressively police our brand and protect it from unauthorized copiers who harm both the legitimate merchant and the consumer. We will work with the authorities to seek out and prosecute trademark violators wherever they operate.”
“Without a doubt, the high quality and workmanship embodied in genuine Lacoste product is not duplicated in the counterfeit apparel,” Mr. Siegel added.
As Lacoste's popularity has soared, so too have the attempts at manufacturing counterfeit product. In response, Lacoste has spearheaded a crackdown on counterfeit activity, working diligently with local law enforcement agencies around the country. Since October 2004, Lacoste has helped to seize almost $3.5 million worth of illegal goods in the US. Lacoste has aggressively enforced its intellectual property rights in the United States and around the world and continues to take action against those who illegally use the crocodile trademark.
