Lacoste USA announced the seizure of counterfeit Lacoste dress shirts, knit polo shirts, sweat suits, hats, jeans and other counterfeit Lacoste fashion items valued at more than $170,000 in raids it conducted at 21 locations across Puerto Rico.
The counterfeit merchandise was seized from flea markets, Internet retailers, wholesalers, street vendors and storefront establishments in San Juan, Ponce, Aguadilla, San German, Mayaguez and other cities. The crack-down was conducted with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico.
“Were sending a strong message to counterfeiters in the U.S. and its territories,” 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 to have the attempts at manufacturing counterfeit product. 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.
