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  4. CBP Officers In South Texas Seize $881,000 In Counterfeit DVD Players

CBP Officers In South Texas Seize $881,000 In Counterfeit DVD Players

Release Date
Mon, 08/29/2011

Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from Laredo Port of Entry on August 24th seized a shipment of DVD players valued at $881,000 that infringed on two trademarks recorded with CBP.

CBP officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge Export Lot targeted a shipment containing DVD players bound for export for an enforcement examination. During the examination, CBP officers discovered that the DVD players contained the DVD and Dolby Digital brand names, which are trademark recorded with CBP.

CBP officers working with import specialists from the Laredo Import Specialist Enforcement Team (ISET) detained the shipments pending verification of the trademark. The ISET determined that the trademark on the DVD players were counterfeit. In addition, the importer was unable to produce letters of authorization for the use of the DVD and Dolby Digital trademarks. CBP seized the merchandise.

The merchandise seized included a combined total of 1,160 packages containing 5,800 DVD players. The estimated domestic value of the DVD players is about $113,000 and the manufacturer's suggested retail price, if the trademark had been genuine, would have been $881,000.

"Our CBP officers and ISET team maintained their vigilance, and their tenacity and attention to detail resulted in the discovery of a shipment allegedly infringing on two trademarks recorded with CBP," said Sidney Aki, CBP port director, Laredo. "Enforcing intellectual property rights law helps protect the American consumer and helps restore American economic competitiveness and ensure a level playing field for legitimate trademark holders."

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021