The Daily Tribune  29th April 2006

NBI agents seize P1.8 million bogus "Harry Potter" items

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized P1.8 million worth of fake " Harry Potter" toys following simultaneous raids in Binondo and Tondo, Manila the other day.

NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) chief Jose Justo Yap yesterday said agents led by special investigator Adjutor Larosa raided the sales outlet and stockroom of S. O. E. Trading in the two commercial areas.

He added now facing charges of trademark infringement are Le Hong, Han Sam and Solomon del
Prado, alleged owners of the S. O. E. Trading, whose sales outlet and stockroom were located at 690 Sta. Elena St., Binondo.

Also raided was the firm's stockroom at Warehouse 19, Properties Management Corp. Distribution Network Inc. (RAN-PMC DNI) at Tutuban Center in Tondo.

Seized from the two establishments were some 1,728 pieces of counterfeit "Harry Potter" toy cars, the NBI said.

But prior to the raids, Yap said NBI agents placed the establishments under surveillance and conducted test buys to confirm the evidence gathered by market-research firm Orion Support Inc.

Yap said Orion represents the intellectual property rights of Warner Bros. which distributes "Harry
Potter" items in the Philippines

Jun P. Yap

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