The National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) on Thursday seized counterfeit Stance socks worth P2,475,000 in Pasay City.
Stance is an American sock and underwear brand popularly worn by NBA stars.
The case stemmed from a letter by Lee Bumgarner Inc. (LBI) on behalf of their client Stance Inc., trademark holder of Stance wordmark and logo, requesting an investigation of certain individuals and establishments engaged in the unauthorized importation, reproduction, manufacture, sale, and distribution of counterfeit Stance items.
After conducting surveillance operations, search warrants were applied for and granted by Judge Maria Victoria A. Soriano-Villadolid of Regional Trial Court Branch 24, Manila.
The search warrants were implemented at Cartimar Shopping Center, Pasay City, leading to the seizure of substantial quantity of fake Stance items.
Charges for violation of Section 155 (trademark infringement) in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act No. 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines) are being readied against the owners or managers and occupants or lessees of various stores at Cartimar selling the fake items./rga