Bluetooth SIG urges all business owners respect and help promote licensed and qualified Bluetooth products
HONG KONG – November 1, 2007 – The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) reported today that a police raid against a factory in Southern China has been carried out successfully with thousands of products and components infringing upon the Bluetooth SIG's registered trademarks being seized.
During the law enforcement action on September 12, Technical Supervisory Bureau and Public Security Bureau (the “Chinese Authorities”), based on information provided by the Bluetooth SIG, found over 4,000 units of trademark infringing earpieces and thousands of electronic parts and components waiting to be assembled at the suspected company – Shenzhen Wanshuo Digital Technology Co Ltd in Shenzhen. The case is being transferred to the Public Security Bureau for possible criminal prosecution.
“The event indicates that Chinese Authorities have showed their determination to curb actions of infringement; however, continuous cooperation between the government and the private sector is still needed to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), in particular Trademark rights, and to stop infringement activities from spreading throughout the country. As over 50 percent of Bluetooth wireless technology qualified products are produced in the Asia Pacific region and China ranks among the top three countries in the region in terms of Bluetooth SIG membership, the Bluetooth SIG has the obligation to protect the rights of fully licensed Bluetooth wireless technology products and members who have conformed to the Bluetooth Qualification Program,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Bluetooth SIG.
“The Bluetooth SIG believes that infringement hurts not only the image and equity of the global royalty-free standard, but also consumers who unknowingly purchase counterfeit Bluetooth wireless technology products which ultimately fail to meet their expectations for interoperability and quality. Only through the protection of IPR, including but not limited to copyrights and trademarks rights, can product innovation be further encouraged and the sustainable development in market practices be achieved,” added Foley.
In order to fight increasing infringing business operations in the region, the Bluetooth SIG has commissioned I-OnAsia Ltd., a global business security and risk consultancy, to conduct a series of infringement investigation and anti-counterfeit programs in the Asia Pacific region in recent years. I-OnAsia's investigation resulted in the crackdown on the law-breaking company in early September, as well as a similar case which occurred July 17, 2006.
At that time, an anti-infringement raid was conducted against Shenzhen Bluebird Hi-Tech Co. Ltd in Shenzhen -- about 3,000 units of counterfeit headsets and over 30,000 units of packaging material and labels bearing Bluetooth trademarks were seized. Its general manager and vice general manager were both sentenced to ten months imprisonment earlier this year. As a showcase for China's determination to stop IP infringement, the case was selected as one of the "Top 10 IPR-protection cases in 2006."
For both cases, the Bluetooth SIG believes that the enforcement actions and the following court verdicts are both laudable and effective in inhibiting future infringement cases. However, such instances of enforcement are completely avoidable. The Bluetooth SIG is an association open to all manufacturers and which offers Bluetooth wireless technology royalty-free. Provided members have properly qualified according to the Bluetooth Qualification Program and the Bluetooth trademarks are properly used in accordance with the Bluetooth Trademark Licensing Agreement, members will be able to enjoy the use of licensed trademarks and provide high quality, fully licensed products to their customers.
About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths – small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. More than five new Bluetooth wireless technology enabled products are qualified every working day and 13 million Bluetooth wireless technology units are shipping per week. The installed base of Bluetooth devices is one and a half billion and climbing, making it the only proven choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.
About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth SIG, comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter group companies Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 9,000 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark, “B & Oval Design” figure mark and “Bluetooth & Design” combination mark are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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Press Contacts:
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Starr Million
INK Public Relations for the Bluetooth SIG
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Jojo Chang
Apex Communications Consultants
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Europe, Middle East, Africa
Danny Devriendt
Porter Novelli for the Bluetooth SIG
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danny.devriendt@porternovelli.be