SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP), Apparel, Footwear and Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise (Center) has recently posted up significant interceptions of intellectual and property rights (IPR) violative wearing apparel infringing on NBA and related trademarks and stands vigilant for more as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers tip off for the NBA Finals series tonight.
“Enforcing IPR laws is a priority trade issue for CBP and helps to protect America’s economic security and competitiveness,” said Director Eric Batt, Apparel, Footwear and Textiles Center of Excellence and Expertise. “The significance of that mission is magnified even more during national sporting events such as the NBA Finals and just as our recent seizure activity shows, we remain committed to ensuring that arriving merchandise adheres to federal IPR law and shipments that infringe on registered trademarks will be targeted and seized.”
During April 2017, CBP officers, import specialists assigned to the Apparel, Footwear and Textiles Center but stationed at ports of entry across the nation seized merchandise that was discovered to be in violation of NBA trademarks that carried a combined manufacturers’ suggested retail price of more than $22,000, including 128 counterfeit jerseys valued at $19,269. Other seized merchandise included caps, rings, sweatshirts, shirts and shorts.
Products that infringe on U.S. trademarks, copyrights, and patents threaten the health and safety of American consumers, the economy, and national security. The Apparel, Footwear and Textiles Center along with nine other Centers that represent the major imported commodities continue to work with Homeland Security Investigations, and other law enforcement agencies, to disrupt the flow of counterfeit goods entering the country in an effort to protect American consumers and brand holders.
CBP continues to target shipments that may include IPR violations. On a typical day in 2016, CBP officers seized $3.8 million worth of products with IPR violations. In the first half of fiscal year 2017, CBP operations led to the seizure of more than $14 million in counterfeit goods.
If you have information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the United States, CBP encourages you to submit an anonymous report through e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System.