Police seize fake Canon goods

“Canon is strongly committed to stamping out the presence of fake Canon battery grips and Canon camera batteries in the Thai market,” Cyril Chua, a partner of ATMD Bird & Bird in Singapore and the representative of the camera company, said yesterday.

The raids on Monday were led by Canon representatives in collaboration with police from the Economic Crime Division, led by Pol Lt-Colonel Chaiwat Pradabthai, using a search warrant from the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court. 

All three shops are suspected of belonging to one owner, who was charged with trademark infringement, which carries a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of Bt400,000. 

“This raid was the latest in our ongoing efforts to ensure that Thai consumers are not harmed by the criminal activities of infringers, as fake batteries can overheat, for example, causing damage to users,” Chua said.

Canon plans to coordinate with the Economic Crime Division to continue the effort to eliminate all counterfeit products in the local market, by carrying out more raids against companies and shops located in Bangkok and upcountry that are selling such goods. Tilleke & Gibbins, the law firm advising Canon, praised these suppression activities. 

“We are pleased that police have acted out of concern that consumers could be deceived about the origin and quality of these questionable products,” said Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing director of the firm’s intellectual property group. 

“It is essential that the Royal Thai Police sustain this campaign against the infringers who produce and distribute these dubious products, ” she said.