SERVICES: Intellectual Property Protection

Anti-Piracy, Gray Market, Counterfeit Investigations

The counterfeit and gray market of product (commonly defined as sales of authentic goods through unauthorized channels) is a global problem with enormous magnitude. The W Group has extensive experience tracking both the goods moved through illicit channels and the responsible parties. Among other things, we help clients develop strategies to prevent, halt and prosecute illegal counterfeiting and gray market product movement.

Experience:

• In several matters, we developed evidence of illicit operations that produced a variety of counterfeit goods – from circuit boards to packaging. Working with outside counsel and the US-Attorney's office, on several matters we participated in "civil search and seizure" operations which led to complete court authorized take over of sham operations.
• On a number of occasions we have been involved in the purchase of counterfeit and/or gray market product on the open market, and working with internal engineers have been able to trace the material back through illicit distribution systems.
• For one large consumer products company, we were able to locate a fabrication vendor that was making the exact product for a new competitor, which included several departed employees of our client. In fact, the fabricator admitted to using the same proprietary blue prints belonging to our client.