Preventing counterfeit goods and those violating intellectual property

The end of the year is the time when people’s demand for goods increases. This is also the time when smuggling activities, trade fraud, production and trading of banned goods and counterfeit goods are complicated. In order to prevent counterfeit goods, fake goods and those violating intellectual property from entering the market, the provincial market management force has increased inspection and supervision of businesses in the area.

Market Management Team No. 6 (Mobile Team) inspects and fines a business household in Hoang Van Thu ward, Lang Son city for selling counterfeit goods with protected trademarks in Vietnam

Recently, the provincial market management force has found many business establishments, especially those selling clothes, shoes, wallets and handbags, glasses, cosmetics, etc. trading goods that violate intellectual property and counterfeit goods.

Promoting inspection and punishment of violations

On November 27, 2023, Market Management Team No. 7 (in charge of Van Lang and Trang Dinh districts) unexpectedly inspected 5 businesses selling handbags, household appliances and cosmetics in Van Lang district. Through inspection, all 5 of them were selling fake goods and those violating intellectual property. Market Management Team No. 7 decided to fine them a total amount of 102 million VND. The value of infringing goods that must be destroyed was 105.6 million VND.

In addition to 5 businesses trading counterfeit goods and goods violating intellectual property in Van Lang district that were discovered, from November 17 to December 12, the Market Management Teams in charge of the areas investigated 48 businesses and found 46 of them selling counterfeit goods and goods that violate intellectual property.

Only from November 17 to December 12, the Market Management Teams in charge of the areas investigated 48 businesses and found 46 of them selling counterfeit goods and goods that violate intellectual property.

 

Mr. Chu Ngoc Ha, Head of Market Management Team No. 4 said: “Following the request of the leader of the Provincial Market Management Department on market control at the end of 2023 and the time before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2024, the team has strengthen the fight against commercial fraud and fake goods in Chi Lang and Huu Lung districts at the end of 2023. Accordingly, from November 17 to December 12, through inspection, the team found and fined 7 out of 9 businesses trading in fake goods with protected trademarks in the country.”

Market Management Team No. 3 inspects and punishes business households in Loc Binh town for selling counterfeit goods

According to the leader of the Provincial Market Management Department, on November 17, the department implemented Plan No. 1235 on anti-smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods campaign in the last months of 2023, before, during and after Lunar New Year 2024, the affiliated Market Management teams inspected distribution and wholesale businesses of goods in the area. The regular and unexpected inspections aims to promptly detect and prevent counterfeit trademark goods and those violating intellectual property from circulating in the market, thereby protecting benefits of businesses operating in production and business, as well as protecting the rights of consumers in the province.

Continuing to synchronously implement measures

After discussions with the leaders of the Provincial Market Management Department, it is known that although violating establishments have been severely punished (the lowest penalty is 8 million VND, the highest penalty is 20 million VND/establishment and the violating goods are forced to destroy). However, due to high profits, the business of counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property is still increasing, especially the business of clothing, handbags, cosmetics, shoes…

To detect and fine businesses that trade in counterfeit goods and goods that violate intellectual property, the leader of the Provincial Market Management Department have directed their affiliated Market Management teams to closely follow the area and use appropriate professional measures to understand each business establishment. Thereby, it is possible to promptly prevent violations.

​Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Provincial Market Management Department, said: “The Provincial Market Management Department has been implementing drastic measures to promptly detect and punish businesses trading counterfeit goods and goods that violate intellectual property. The first measure that the market management force is taking is to use professional measures in reviewing, collecting information from the market, from reconnaissance sources… for sudden inspections at businesses thereby preventing those violating from dispersing infringing goods. Moreover, the market management force also implemented specialized inspection and supervision in the field of trading of goods at the end of the year, monitoring market developments, buying and selling demand and psychology of consumers, thereby promptly developing plans for market inspection and supervision.”

What is more, the Market Management force continues to coordinate with the specialized division of the Provincial Public Security Department to review and classify the list of e-commerce websites and social network accounts of organizations and individuals operating in online businesses in the province, thereby using professional measures, developing investigation plans, preventing acts of trading fake goods and those violating intellectual property… through e-commercial activities.

In addition to inspection and control activities, teams in charge of districts and Lang Son city continue to promote propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations in business activities to raise public awareness of obeying the laws; announce and widely publicize the hotline phone number of the leaders of the Provincial Market Management Department and leaders of the Market Management Teams so for promptly reporting violations.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Sai, owner of a clothing business at the central market of Huu Lung town, Huu Lung town shared: “Recently, realizing the increasing needs of consumers, my family and I sold some types of clothes with  unknown origin. After being informed by officers of Market Management Team No. 4 about the regulations in business activities, we had a better understanding of the regulations in business activities and signed a commitment to strictly comply with them and not to sell counterfeit goods and goods of unknown origin to consumers.”

From now until the Lunar New Year of 2024, the market management force in the province will regularly conduct public inspections of compliance with legal regulations in business at all businesses, convenient stores, supermarket… in the province. In particular, the market management force will focus on conducting inspections based on information sources and feedback from consumers.

With the measures that have been implemented, the provincial market management force is determined to effectively fight against violations in business activities, especially preventing counterfeit goods and goods infringing on intellectual property from circulating in the market, thereby contributing to cleaning up the business environment and protecting consumer’s rights.