In partnership with Chinese authorities, L-Acoustics was involved in tracking down five counterfeiters who were subsequently found guilty and sentenced to jail for producing and selling counterfeit L‑Acoustics loudspeakers in China. The suspects were arrested, and a batch of counterfeit signs, molds and other items was seized in Shiji Town, Guangzhou, China. A public hearing was held in The People’s Court of Panyu District. There, the suspects presented their defense against the filed physical and documentary evidence, expert opinions, witness testimonies and the victim statements.
The court found the suspects guilty of counterfeiting a registered trademark. They were initially sentenced to at least one year in prison, fined and their activity suspended for varying numbers of years. Since probation for similar activities had been revoked in previous cases, however, the counterfeiters ended up with prison sentences of up to three years.
Counterfeiters Seek to Profit from L-Acoustics’ Reputation
According to L-Acoustics, its loudspeakers are in high demand by artists worldwide. It’s no surprise, then, the company says, that people want to create copycats to profit from its reputation. However, counterfeiting poses enough dangers to make people think twice about that cheap price tag. Aside from the risk of prison sentences for counterfeiters, various safety risks are associated with deploying untested and uncertified counterfeits.
Deployed fake L-Acoustics sound systems will not deliver the same performance as the genuine article. Moreover, they expose operators and the public to hazardous safety risks and even more severe legal liabilities if an accident occurs. There’s also the risk of a safety inspection from local authorities during a show. A lack of genuine certification of conformity can cause authorities to shut down a show or production altogether.
“To protect the company IP and our partners, not to mention users’ safety, we have dedicated significant financial and human resources to act against counterfeit products,” states Laurent Ostojski, senior legal counsel at L-Acoustics. “Our task force continuously monitors the market for suspicious activity, and we are pleased to see that firm legal action on the part of L-Acoustics has led to punishment for parties that have been proven to use our brand illegally.”
L-Acoustics, is, of course, a prominent global manufacturer of solutions for the professional sound industry. If you suspect a counterfeit product, contact the L-Acoustics Counterfeit task force.
