The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group has announced that a preliminary injunction has been issued by the Southern District Court of Florida to shut down 62 websites where counterfeit clubs were sold. This marks yet another important victory in the group’s efforts to fight counterfeiting and protect consumers. Visitors going to many of the websites will now be redirected to information about the preliminary injunction and other legal actions against the owners of the websites.
Twelve individuals are believed to have been involved with the operator of the 62 sites. The counterfeit products sold from these URLs include clubs, balls, head covers and bags. In addition to shutting down the websites, the restraining order also froze all PayPal accounts associated with them and transferred existing funds to a holding account until the legal process is complete.
“This is the latest tool in our enforcement arsenal as we continue our ongoing battle against counterfeiters,” said Joe Nauman, Executive V.P. Corporate and Legal for Acushnet Company. “Shutting down this many sites in one action sends an important message and the Federal Court inFloridaclearly agrees. This effort potentially prevents thousands of people from being fooled into buying fake clubs. That’s what our group is all about.”
This is one of the group’s largest enforcement actions working within theUSlegal system. It is an indication of the group’s progress and the expansion of both its education and enforcement initiatives in theUSand abroad.
The group is dedicated to educating consumers about how to spot and avoid fake golf products and operates its own website, www.keepgolfreal.com. As a result of the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group’s petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of manufacturing, warehouse, assembly and retail facilities have been executed by Chinese law enforcement and civil enforcement authorities since 2004.
Raids and investigations of counterfeit operations
The Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group consists of five of the most well-known golf companies in the world–Callaway-Odyssey, Top-Flite and Ben Hogan; TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth; PING; Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Never Compromise; and Acushnet Company whose brands are Titleist, FootJoy and Scotty Cameron. Since 2004, the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group has worked with international law enforcement and government agencies to conduct raids and investigations of counterfeit operations, as well as raise public awareness of the issue. In 2011 alone, the group seized more than 80,000 counterfeit golf products.
Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group www.keepgolfreal.com