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Cleaning up counterfeit goods

Over 3,000 electric toothbrush heads have been seized by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) after police raided two addresses in east London last week. If genuine, the toothbrush heads would have been worth around £45,000. One man was arrested on suspicion of distributing articles that infringe trade marks and the acquisition of criminal property. A consumer goods manufacturer suspected the counterfeit heads were being sold on Amazon and reported the potential issue to the PIPCU. PIPCU worked together and with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crime Unit to get information on the products and confirm the infringement. In addition to the counterfeit goods, £6,000 cash was seized from the premises, which will be subject to confiscation proceedings, which are proceedings to deprive defendants of the benefit that they have obtained from crime. The arrested man has been released under investigation. The PIPCU highlighted the importance of tackling counterfeit products to protect consumers, as fake and illegal products can pose health risks to consumers. This operation is an example of the ongoing efforts to combat intellectual property crime, and the result of great collaboration between the law enforcement agencies and private entities such as Amazon. It is encouraged that individuals and businesses report suspected counterfeit products to prevent their widespread distribution and to protect consumers from potential harm. If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com. Posted by: Megan Walker in: Regulatory

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