In an action instigated by the fischer group of companies, German customs officials confiscated goods and catalogues from eight Asian exhibitors at Fastener Fair Stuttgart.
Explaining the action taken, Jörg Klaus Fischer, deputy CEO for the fischer group of companies and chairman of the fixing systems division, said: “Illegal copies of our patented anchors cause us losses running into several hundred thousand Euros every year. There is also a higher liability risk for the users of similar-looking, low-quality products which don’t meet the stringent requirements of statutory approvals”.
Fischer regularly sends patent attorneys to trade fairs at home and abroad. “A number of stands displaying patent-infringing products were identified at this year’s Fastener Fair,” it says. The main examples of patent infringement related to fischer’s GK plasterboard fixing with setting tool.
Customs officers examined the stands of eight exhibitors from Taiwan, China and India. Samples, catalogues, brochures, orders and other materials were confiscated, personal details of the exhibitors were recorded and criminal proceedings were taken against stand personnel. The Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office required payment of a total 36,000 Euro to avoid a warrant of arrest (10,000 Euro for repeat offences, 4,000 Euro for first offences) on the spot or as bail for future fines or conditions.
“At the same time we notified the exhibitors by word of mouth and by letter about the background to this action and demanded injunctive declarations which four firms signed at once”, says Dr. Ulrich Suchy, head of Patents and Licences of the fischer group of companies.
Four EU companies were also identified as allegedly counterfeiting the GK plasterboard fixing and fischer says it intends pursing legal action against these companies. “I believe we have set an important signal to the market, saying that we will track and prosecute every kind of patent infringement,” says Dr. Suchy.
Show organiser, Jerry Ramsdale, said:” While Fastener Fair regrets that these actions by the Customs authorities proved necessary at an event that in all other regards has been met with great enthusiasm and support from exhibitors and visitors, we completely endorse the robust protection of intellectual property rights. As exhibitor organisers we have no legal right to take action over infringements of other companies’ intellectual property rights but, as in this instance, we will always cooperate fully with the legitimate local authorities. In the interests of fair international trade and the safety and quality reputations of the global fastener industry, it is essential that all companies absolutely respect the law, whether in relation to product design and intellectual property or to other local, national and international regulations relating to fair trade.”
