The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group
announced that raids to a factory in Beijing resulted in the seizure of nearly 10,000 pieces of
counterfeit golf equipment, including more than 740 assembled golf
clubs, 1,500 club heads, 4,700 golf grips, 2,300 shafts, 280 headcovers
and assorted golf towels, golf bags and apparel.
On March 24, the Beijing Chaoyang Administration for
Industry and Commerce (AIC) and the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau
(PSB) jointly conducted raids against an assembly and warehouse facility
of the Sunshine Golf Store located at Shangxinpu, Huanggang Village,
Chaoyang District, Beijing. The owner and seven other persons were arrested by the PSB after the
raid.
The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group said this extensive enforcement action was conducted after complaints were
filed with the respective local AIC and PSB organizations by the U.S.
Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group.
The seized goods were illegal copies of authentic products made by all
six of the Group's members. It is anticipated that Chinese authorities
will pursue criminal prosecutions in this case.
The Group was formed in 2004 to petition governments to enforce their
country's laws against counterfeiters of golf equipment products. As a
result of the Group's petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of
manufacturing, warehouse, assembly and retail facilities have been
conducted by Chinese law enforcement and civil enforcement authorities
over the past five years. Several business operators have been arrested
and many have now been prosecuted in the Chinese courts.
The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group consists
of the world's leading golf equipment manufacturers. Its members and
brands include Acushnet Company – Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra Golf;
Callaway Golf – Odyssey, Top-Flite and Ben Hogan; Cleveland
Golf / Srixon; Nike Golf; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth
Golf.
