Fake hair care products seized
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:28:00 11/18/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Consumer Issues
MANILA, Philippines—Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized 200 boxes of fake hair care products in a series of raids on several business establishments in San Pablo and Lucena cities.
Operatives of the NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division swooped down Monday on stalls operated by the MOP General Merchandise, Lucena 3M Trading, and Hong Tal Yang Enterprises in Lucena City; and by the Rinsher Trading and Meteor Garden Commercial establishment in San Pablo City.
Confiscated from the stalls were 200 boxes of fake DPS Hair Blackening shampoo. The raid was the result of a complaint lodged by DPS Enterprises, owner and manufacturer of the shampoo brand, on the alleged illegal distribution and sale of its products and the manufacture of hair care products illegally using its trademark in several provincial stores and commercial establishments.
NBI agents conducted surveillance and test buys on the stores to verify the complaint before seeking the issuance of a search warrant from Manila regional trial court Judge Reynaldo Ros.
NBI lawyer Elfren Meneses, who heads the NBI-IPRD, explained that the sale and manufacture of the fake products would be highly detrimental not only to the public, but to the company, too, because the mixture of the counterfeit shampoo might have side effects that could be blamed on the manufacturer.
Meneses added that the act constituted an unfair business practice.
The owners of the establishments from where the boxes were seized will be charged with trademark infringement under Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code.
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