Cracking Down on Online Counterfeits

The anti-counterfeiting enforcement team at SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO, led by Mr. Kensaku Yamamoto, successfully completed a criminal enforcement action on behalf of its client, Harley Davidson Inc., against 2 Japanese online counterfeiters found to be selling counterfeit Harley Davidson leather jackets sourced from the People’s Republic of China.

Like elsewhere, the counterfeiting trade in Japan has moved online and the source countries of these online counterfeit goods come from China and Southeast Asia. These pirated goods are purchased online and shipped directly to innocent Japanese consumers and such online sale tactics have become popular with counterfeit vendors based overseas and in Japan.

Working together with the police and investigation officers of the Ogaki Station, Gifu Police, the Firm successfully initiated a criminal complaint and participated in the raid, investigation, arrest, prosecution and conviction of the 2 Japan-based online counterfeiters for selling and distributing fake Harley Davidson jackets.

In appreciation of the Gifu Police’s successful criminal investigation and conviction of the online counterfeiters, Mr. Kensaku Yamamoto presented a Letter of Appreciation from Harley Davidson Inc., (USA) to Mr. Hideo Munemiya, Assistant Commissioner and Station Commander of Ogaki Station, Gifu Police on August 13, 2015. The Gifu Police was commended for “displaying the highest degree of professionalism, vigilance and diligence in line with the proud traditions of law enforcement.”

The Firm is dedicated to assisting clients in tackling online piracy and other forms of intellectual property crime such as counterfeit goods. With this successful investigation, prosecution and conviction of the 2 Gifu-based online counterfeit vendors, the Firm is glad to ensure that its brandowner clients stay at the forefront of intellectual property enforcement.