Raid targets Phony ink cartridges

Phony ink cartridges raid target:

"Staff Reporter 2006-05-31

THE market watchdog is investigating an underground workshop that produced counterfeit ink cartridges, labeled as famous brands, such as Ricoh and Konica.

The Shanghai General Inspection Team of Quality and Technical Supervision seized 268 ink cartridges from the workshop on Chang'an Road in Zhabei District during a raid, the team said. It acted on tips from official brand holders.

The workshop, registered as Shanghai Zhongtian Digital Office Equipment Co, hid storage and production materials in the basement of a middle school.

Copyright-infringed brands include Ricoh, Konica, Minolta and Brother. Packages were labeled Ricoh Company Ltd, Shanghai Ricoh Fax Co, Konica Minolta Office System (China) Co, and others. They appeared identical to authentic cartridges.

Investigators said company officials admitted the cartridges were purchased at a low price from illegal sources, including street vendors who collected discarded ones.

The fakes have been confiscated as evidence. Company figures on illegal profits and the number of sales were not available.

Officials with Konica Minolta Office System (China) Co said they suffer losses of 400 million yuan (US$49 million) a year because of counterfeit products using their brand."

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