Baltimore Customs And Border Patrol officers seized 2,990 sinks from Malaysia January 17 for violating trademark protection laws. Photo: CBP
BALTIMORE–U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 2,990 stainless steel sinks for displaying a counterfeit UPC shield design in Baltimore.
The shipment of sinks arrived from Malaysia and was destined to an address in Maryland. CBP examined the shipment for Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties enforcement. During that examination, CBP officers discovered the UPC shield logo.
CBP officers and Intellectual Property Rights specialists verified the authenticity of the UPC shield logo with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the registered trademark holder, who determined the use of the logo to be unauthorized.
CBP seized the entire shipment of sinks as counterfeit for using registered markings without trademark holder’s authorization..
If authentic, the stainless steel sinks would have had a manufacturer suggested retail price of about $1.1 million.
