Customs, Louis Vuitton wage war vs counterfeiting

A Louis Vuitton bag comfortably displayed in a stall of one small store in downtown Garapan was way down cheaper than those sold at the Duty Free Shoppers Galleria and you badly wanted to own something just like that, would you buy it?

Chances are, the bag is no more than just an imitation of the original Louis Vuitton product which government authorities admitted currently proliferates the local market along with other signature apparel and accessory items.

The proliferation of counterfeit Louis Vuitton products are, however, nearing its end as the company forges an agreement with the CNMI government to launch an all-out war against the entry of fake brand products into the Northern Marianas.
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On Thursday, Louis Vuitton-Saipan will sponsor a special seminar-workshop on anti-counterfeiting at the Hyatt Regency’s Giovanni’s Restaurant for the officers of the CNMI Customs Division.

Louis Vuitton-Saipan store manager Brian Bice said the special anti-counterfeit training for CNMI customs officers will coincide with the ceremonial burning of seized fake items at the Saipan International Airport.

He said the company will bring in Hong Kong-based Frederic Thiry, an expert in anti-counterfeit activities, to carry on the special seminar-workshop for local customs officers who, along with immigration personnel, are considered CNMI’s gatekeepers.

According to Mr. Bice, the training will familiarize the participants with the Louis Vuitton Group of Companies that could make the customs officers especially aware which products are original and which are fake.

That way, only original Louis Vuitton products can enter the Northern Marianas eventually eliminating the proliferation of fake signature products in the local market, thereby, giving the consumers added protection.

Existing federal and local laws provide ample consumer protection against deception that include the sale of counterfeited goods or items in the Northern Marianas.
The CNMI’s Consumer Protection Law said that the public interest requires that consumers be protected from abuses in commerce which deprive them of the full value and benefit of their purchases of goods and services.

The law also cited as illegal the increasing of the cost of merchandise which has been previously been placed into the stream of commerce by having been offered to the public for sale at a specific price, indicated by the price tag or marking placed on the goods.

With regards to the imported commodities, CNMI laws prohibit the use of deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection with goods or services.

Organizers of the seminar-training are anticipating over 30 participants from the Customs Division of the finance department for the CNMI’s first ever private sector-sponsored program against counterfeiting, as well as in the ceremonial burning of confiscated fake items.
“Both events will demonstrate the commitment and cooperation between Louis Vuitton and the Customs Division to stop the flow of counterfeit goods into our island,” said Mr. Bice.

Companies that manufacture and sell popular products are reportedly losing billions of dollars worldwide due to illegal activities of unscrupulous individuals who imitate goods that now proliferates the market at a much lower price and equally lower quality.