The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is warning sports fans against buying or selling fraudulent sports gear during the upcoming Super Bowl weekend, according to a statement issued Thursday afternoon.
Houston police have already arrested four individuals for trademark counterfeiting. Usman Tassadiq, Abdul Bais Wali and Waqas Waqas, were attempting to sell fake Houston Texans T-Shirts from a shop on Bellaire and now face up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.
Jun Sung Lee was also caught with a variety of counterfeit items, including Super Bowl gear, at a store on Harwin Drive. Lee, who resides in Katy, now faces up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, of especially inexpensive sports merchandise. “Be wise and be aware.”
The District Attorney’s office notes that prosecutors are assisting law enforcement in tracking down trademark counterfeiters.
They advise customers to buy sports merchandise from established retail stores and to examine the purchased item carefully for low quality, loose stitching and off center logos, which are all signs that it could be a fake.
Officials also remind consumers to look for NFL hologram stickers on products, and to make sure they move in the light and at different angles.
Super Bowl shirts, lanyards, bracelets and decals are among the fake items that have already been confiscated. “Knock offs are against the law,” Ogg said. “We will protect intellectual property as we do personal property.”
[Source:-CHron]
