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Business News Legal
Police raid counterfeit t-shirt operation, arrest three (people, not t-shirts)
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 4 February 2015
Three people have been arrested by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit on suspicion of creating counterfeit clothing bearing the trademarked names of famous musicians, such as Justin Bieber, One Direction, Nirvana and Motorhead.
The City Of London Police’s IP crime team was apparently tipped off about the trademark infringing clothing by private investigation company Surelock, before making test purchases to ensure that the clobber was indeed fakery. And it was. Allegedly. So that’s good. Or not. Well, I guess it’s good they found out. Not that Justin Bieber was done out of some money, considering how nice a guy he’s decided he now is.
Leader of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Kevin Kirton, said this: “Today’s operation has shown once again that PIPCU will come down hard on anyone we suspect of being involved in the production and distribution of digital or hard counterfeit goods. It is vitally important for businesses that they can trade in the UK in a market place that is a fair and level playing field for all. Anyone who we believe is seeking to compromise this market place and make criminal capital out of other people’s hard work runs the risk of receiving an early morning visit from PIPCU”.
How bad can it be though? Well, PIPCU reckons the people involved in the operation made £100,000 in profit. Two of the three have been released on bail until August, while the third was yesterday still being questioned.
