Society

Anti-counterfeit campaign bearing early fruit

By Zheng Caixiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-26 08:18

GUANGZHOU - Since the start of a special campaign in October, Guangdong police have investigated 910 cases arising from the production and sale of counterfeit goods in violation of intellectual property rights.

More than 2,000 suspects were detained after investigators shut down 546 places where counterfeits were being made and busted 214 gangs that were manufacturing the fake products, according to Xu Wenhai, director of the economic crimes investigation department of the Guangdong provincial bureau of public security.

A large number of fake products, including food, cosmetics, medicines, building materials, detergents, household appliances, cell phones, garments, shoes, cigarettes and agricultural equipment, have been seized.

Xu said the special campaign, named Liang Jian (Sharp Sword in Chinese), has done much to curtail the counterfeiting that used to be common in Guangdong.

"Counterfeiting in recent years has shifted from the prosperous Pearl River Delta cities to the province's northern, western and eastern parts, where the economy has lagged behind," Xu said.

He said the production and sale of counterfeits have been especially common in cities that are hubs for distributing various goods. He declined to identify the cities he had in mind.

A recent case occurred on March 27. Police in Foshan's Nanhai district seized 358 fake air-conditioners, valued at more than 1 million yuan ($153,000), after they had cracked down on a secret site where fake goods were being produced.

Despite the successes, Xu said the Liang Jian campaign will not come to an end until the end of the year.

He said a priority will be placed in coming months on fighting counterfeiters of seeds, farm chemicals, fertilizers and other agricultural products.

Shang Qiangfeng, a Guangzhou white-collar worker, said fake products can be found everywhere.

"The police should introduce effective and concrete measures to fight counterfeiting in the province," Shang said.