G-Star gets counter tough

 

G-Star Raw’s latest victory in the federal courts follows a triple-barrelled campaign to crack down on counterfeit operators, with eight more proceedings currently underway.

The international denim brand has successfully sued a New South Wales retailer for selling counterfeit products through its ‘Red Chilli’ store.

G-Star issued proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia in March 2009, and was recently awarded $61,000 in damages from Red Chilli owner Yanan Yao. Further damages were awarded to G-Star after evidence revealed Yao continued to sell counterfeit products after proceedings were issued against him.

The case follows a similar court victory in December 2009, when G-Star was awarded over $90,000 in damages from Urban Culture retail owner Abdul Salam Auieda for selling fake goods. Middletons lawyer Jonathan Feder, who represents the brand in Australia, said further court action could be expected with eight proceedings currently underway and a further three set for issue.

Feder said an additional 15 proceedings had been issued against counterfeit operators over the last three years. “I think it’s fair to say that G-Star is the flavour of the month at the moment,” he said. “One of the things that helps us here ... is that G-Star Australia has a zero tolerance policy on counterfeit vendors.”

Feder said the brand had three frontiers in targeting illegal operators – private investigators who monitor market stalls and retailers, in-house staff who are alert to counterfeit products and a program with the Australian Customs Service (ASC). Notices from the ACS ensure the brand can prevent both small and large quantities of counterfeit G-Star products being imported into Australia.

Feder claimed the brand’s tough stance had paid off, with customs notices down from an average of two per week in 2007 to three per month this year.

Assia Benmedjdoub