The Anti-Fraud and
Commercial Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
(CIDG) seized more than 200 pieces of fake basketballs amounting close to
P500,000 from three sports boutiques last month.
On the strength of a court-issued search and seizure warrant, the CIDG found Mix Sports, Jianwang and Plus Sports commercial stores in Divisoria engaged in marketing and selling imitations of Molten basketball models GL7 and GG7 and were selling these items at the retail prices of the original models.
Molten Representative Atty.
Raul Allado presents a sample of confiscated Molten basketballs in Divisoria amounting to P500,000 |
In a statement by Molten Corporation Japan thru its exclusive distributor to the Philippines, Sonia Trading, the company expressed their concern due to losses caused by the proliferation of imitations of their patented basketballs and the complaints of customers who unknowingly purchased fake balls sold at their original prices.
Molten Molten
Representative Atty. Raul Allado explains to media the difference of authentic Molten balls from fake ones in a CIDG-led raid in Divisoria recently. |
According to Molten
representative Atty. Raul Allado, “the operation signals the beginning of a
vigorous campaign by Molten, by and through our government authorities, to rid
the market of fake Molten products which continue to proliferate to the
prejudice of the unknowing public.”
“Though similar at
first, the skin of a fake ball peels off easily and the markings and black channel
lines are different. Discoloration and change of texture is often observed in a
fake ball even without heavy usage,” Allado said. He added that an authentic Molten
ball comes with a 2-year factory warranty and is sold inflated to avoid deformity.
The CIDG submitted
the confiscated balls to the Intellectual Property Office for custody pending
their presentation as evidence in connection with the cases filed against the
owners of said commercial establishments in violation of Republic Act No. 8293
or the Intellectual Property Code.
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