Counterfeit clippings: news in brief

Samsung drops Supreme tie-in, fake titanium used in planes, fake Bunchem toys, Nike security labels, and fake LV seizure.

Samsung pulls partnership with Supreme’s Italian clone

Samsung China has ended a controversial partnership with Supreme Italia, described as a “legal fake” business posing as the fashionable US streetwear brand, reports Engadget. The deal had been announced by Samsung at the launch of its Galaxy A8s smartphone in China, but was swiftly refuted by Supreme New York in a press statement which said the claims it was working with Samsung as “blatantly false” and had been “propagated by a counterfeit organisation”. Samsung clarified later the agreement was with Supreme Italia, a company that Engadget says “manages to exist through a bunch of intellectual property law loopholes, and has license to sell its unofficial wares in China.” It has now abandoned the link-up.

Counterfeit titanium metal used in Russian aircraft; report

Russian news outlets have reported that counterfeit metal purported to be made by the world’s largest titanium producer VSMPO-AVISMA have ended up being use in the assembly and repair of aircraft between 2011 and 2018, according to defence-blog.com. The counterfeits – which had falsified certificates – were found at the Voronezh factory, one of the largest aircraft-producing facilities in Russia. A criminal investigation is ongoing.

Bunchems producer wins $2.4m award against Alibaba sellers over counterfeits

Toy company Spin Master has been awarded a $2.4m judgment in a US court against 47 defendants accused of selling counterfeits versions of its popular Bunchems plastic toy balls on Alibaba.com, AliExpress.com and DHGate.com, reports Bloomberg Law. The company brought copyright, trademark, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment claims in the suit.

Nike turning to unique QR codes and security labels to protect shoes

In order to fight counterfeit goods, all of Nike is expanding its use of security labels and tags for its footwear products, according to fashion site Straatosphere. Citing Instagram user @hanyuzing, it reports that Nike is planning to introduce unique QR codes on size tags and both QR codes and chips on the shoebox label “as a form of ID for each sneaker” that will allow purchasers to verify their authenticity.

CBP seizes $129k in fake clothes and accessories, including LV bags

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized counterfeit consumer goods – including  designer brand name shoes, handbags, purses, belts and scarves – in an air cargo shipment that arrived recently to Washington Dulles International Airport. If authentic, the goods would have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of more than $129,000. Among the haul were bags purporting to have been made by designer Louis Vuitton.