NBI sues businessmen for selling fake car parts

CHARGES were filed in court yesterday against two businessmen who allegedly sold counterfeit automative parts.

Alberto Yu, owner of Diamond Auto Supply in downtown Cebu City; and Benjamin Sy, owner of New Dynamic Automotive Supply, will be facing trial on accusations of violating Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Bail was recommended at P10,000 for each of the accused.

The issue stemmed from the complaint of Robert Bosch Inc.

In Feb. 2006, Bosch requested the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) to conduct an investigation on the persons behind the sale and distribution of counterfeit Bosch products.

NBI-7 Special Investigator Jedidah Hife bought from Diamond Auto Suppl and New Dynamic Automotive Supply samples of automative products all bearing Bosch trademarks.

Upon examination and evaluation, Bosch Philippines found that the products sold at Yu’s store were counterfeited.

In April 2006, the NBI-7 conducted an operation which resulted to the confiscation of two spark plugs, three ignition coils, and several bolts.

The respondents failed to refute the allegations.

Assistant State Prosecutor Elizabeth Berdal found probable cause to indict Yu based on the complaint.

Republic Act 8293 holds liable “any person who shall, without the consent of the owner of the registered mark use in commerce any reproduction, counterfeit, copy, or colorable imitation of a registered mark or the same container or a dominant feature thereof in connection with the sale, offering for sale, distribution, advertising of any goods or services including other preparatory steps necessary to carry out the sale of any goods or services on or in connection with which such use is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.” /Ador Vincent S. Mayol, Reporter