BRAND PROTECTION
ANTI-COUNTERFEIT
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
Counterfeit Crackdowns to Protect Your IP Assets
If left unaddressed, counterfeit products can quietly erode the value of your intellectual property. In some cases, companies find that their trademarks have been legally hijacked by copycat entities abroad. When it comes to overseas IP enforcement, trust a firm like ours—one that has established deep relationships with local courts and national police forces, and a proven track record of successful crackdowns.
Your Brand Might Be Counterfeited Worldwide—Without You Knowing
You may be shocked to discover just how widely your brand is being imitated around the globe. In many parts of Asia, counterfeit goods circulate as if they were completely legitimate. Seeing this, we launched a specialized service focused on identifying and eliminating counterfeit products, particularly for companies with active markets overseas.
Popular targets for counterfeiters include luxury bags and sports goods, with operations often concentrated in China and Southeast Asia. In Thailand, for example, fake sportswear is widely popular among gym-goers.
How to Spot Fakes (and Why It’s Hard)
Counterfeits often mimic embroidery, QR codes, and even packaging, making them difficult to identify—even for professionals. Some high-end counterfeit goods are priced nearly the same as genuine products, and quality levels vary widely, posing serious challenges for consumers and enforcement.
What’s worse, counterfeit baby goods and pharmaceuticals can pose grave health risks. Street vendors and unregulated marketplaces are particularly risky. In some cases, counterfeiters alter logos slightly or preemptively register the names of international products to avoid legal liability.
We Handle Copyright Infringement in Asia
What happens if your product goes global without enforcement? Your company name, product names, and trademarks could be claimed by imitators abroad—essentially turning your own IP into someone else’s asset.
Are you unsure whether your products are being copied overseas? By initiating an enforcement request with us, you’ll gain immediate clarity about your brand’s global exposure.
For example, we successfully took down counterfeit products across 10 countries’ e-commerce platforms on behalf of a leading sportswear manufacturer.
In such cases, we coordinate directly with local courts, customs, and national police to take decisive action.
Our firm is one of the very few IP firms in the world that provides this level of cross-border enforcement service in-house. If you were to seek the same support through multiple international firms, the costs would be significantly higher.
We provide streamlined, cost-effective, high-quality IP services—all under one roof. Let us help protect your products from global infringement.
Trademark Registration: The First Step in Fighting Counterfeits
There’s a clear roadmap to effective anti-counterfeiting strategy, and it starts with trademark registration.
Each country has its own customs procedures—and Japan is no exception. For Japanese companies, it’s critical to register your trademarks with agencies like Tokyo Customs to ensure import/export protection.
If you’re operating in Asia, make sure your house marks are registered before counterfeiters hijack them. For cosmetic brands, registering product names is highly recommended. For sports brands with distinctive colors or design features, design registrations (industrial designs) are also key.
This registration step is your first line of defense. At our firm, we conduct in-depth consultations to tailor your filing strategy based on your business size and growth stage. But everything starts with that first registration.
The Cost of Ignoring Patent Infringement
As a former in-house patent attorney at a global corporation in the 1990s, I spent nearly a decade dealing with international patent filings. The process was time-consuming, complex, and costly. What shocked me most was how many companies—even well-known ones—sold products that were thinly veiled copies of Western innovations.
Despite knowing this, I was powerless to intervene. Eventually, what I feared most happened: the company faced a flood of patent lawsuits worldwide and ended up paying massive settlements.
That experience was eye-opening—and it led me to start my own firm. I vowed to help companies proactively protect themselves from the same fate.
Why IP Strategy Matters—Even for Low-Tech Industries
You may think IP strategy only matters in high-tech fields. But the truth is, intellectual property can be a game-changer even in low-tech industries.
Take the German appliance brand Miele as an example. Faced with the influx of low-cost competitors, they rebranded their products under a new premium concept: “Premium Kitchen.”
By highlighting design, functionality, and durability, they secured patents and launched a marketing campaign that positioned their products in high-end markets—including luxury homes and backstage kitchens at Wimbledon.
Their success proves that IP is just as critical in low-tech industries as it is in tech-heavy fields.
Entering New Industries with Strategy and Protection
The global marketplace has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies across industries are now exploring new verticals and business models.
But venturing into new markets or industries without a solid IP strategy leaves you vulnerable to copycats, legal pitfalls, and lost opportunities.
At our firm, we help clients expand strategically—with protection built in.