Chinese Authorities Raid Counterfeit Sanitaryware Operations Linked to International Brands
- brg_news_room
- Feb 9
- 1 min read
China: Chinese authorities have conducted a raid on two counterfeiting operations in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, following months of investigation initiated by sanitaryware manufacturer Hansgrohe. The company commissioned undercover investigators to identify the locations of counterfeit networks. With sufficient evidence collected, the Kaiping Public Security Bureau carried out the enforcement action, seizing counterfeit products, including those imitating Hansgrohe and other international sanitaryware brands. Three individuals were arrested, and criminal proceedings have been initiated. The estimated value of the equivalent genuine Hansgrohe and AXOR products involved in the raid was approximately EUR 360,000.
The Hansgrohe Group, a member of the Action Group Against Product and Brand Piracy (APM), has noted that around 95 percent of counterfeit products bearing its name originate in China. The country serves as both a production and distribution base for such goods, with platforms such as Taobao and WeChat often used due to their broad reach and transaction convenience. The company also highlighted challenges in the legal framework, including counterfeiters using artificial intelligence to replicate marketing materials and registering their own intellectual property to hinder the original manufacturers. Limited enforcement mechanisms on certain platforms continue to pose difficulties in addressing intellectual property violations effectively.
Source: Hansgrohe Newsroom
