Inquirer.net   23rd June 2008

Fake Vans rubber shoes seized in Pasay

Regional director Elfren Meneses, chief of the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), said their agents confiscated counterfeit Vans shoes on June 20 from the stall and stockrooms of Proudly Step Shoe Marketing and/or N.T. Manicat Footwear at Harrison Shoe Plaza, F.B. Harrison Street.

An operation was also conducted at the stall and stockrooms of Nai Pao Sports Articles Co. Ltd. at Bagong Milenyo Whole Sale Center, also on F.B. Harrison and Alok Building, Agtarap Street.

The raid yielded a total 12,542 pairs of pirated Vans rubber shoes, worth around P23.8 million.

The NBI placed the establishments under surveillance as test buys were conducted to confirm the complaint of Vans Inc., which has copyright over the rubber-shoe brand.

A search warrant was then secured from Judge Reynaldo Ros of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 33 for the raids.

Charges of trademark infringement and unfair competition under the Intellectual property Code of the Philippines (R.A. 8293) are set to be filled against Nai Pao operators Ailyn Chui and/or Shie Lou; and Proudly Step’s unnamed owners.

-- Allison Lopez

Click Image For Full Size View