Customs and Border Protection Seize Hand Massagers at MN Border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office in International Falls took the hand massagers after they discovered they violated intellectual property rights regulations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says a railcar that was on its way to Ranier, Minnesota was stopped Saturday for inspection when officers found 5,220 fake hand massagers that had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $521,843, if the goods had been real.
Anthony Jackson, International Falls Port Director said in a press release, "Counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas. Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the unethical companies have profited billions of dollars with the sale of pirated/counterfeit goods. These products not only hurt the companies that have the rights to these products, but could also harm people and property because of the cheap build quality of these knockoff items.
CBP says that trademark and copyright holders can register their products online, doing this help officers and inspectors track and find this illegal merchandise. CBP has set up an educational program at American international airports and a website to aid with consumer awareness, you can learn more about pirated/counterfeit goods here.