9/83 POLICE HIT FAKE BAG MAKERS - Trademark

In late July, 1983 Kanagawa police confiscated 3550 fake Louis Vuitton bags. They were very good copies, but sell at 1/3--1/2 original prices. Tokyo police also questioned 3 bag wholesalers after finding 166 fake Louis Vuitton bags in one of their cars. This is in violation of the Unfair Trade Prevention Law and the Trademark Law. Tokyo police have now questioned 16 makers as they attempt to crack down on this trade. Police have thus far confiscated 20,000 famous brand fakes valued at 100 million yen. In this relation the members of the Ameyoko Wholesalers Association, located near Ueno Station in Tokyo, and a hot-bed of such fake brand sales, have signed a memorandum not to deal in such products again. MITI has also been pressuring the dealers, claiming that such transactions damage Japan's international reputation. The memorandum was signed by 400 firms, including 20 which had gained a reputation for dealing in such goods.

JAPAN LAWLETTER, September, 1983. By Roderick Seeman