January 6, 2005
BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA, January 6, 2005 -- New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. company announced today that together with Chinese officials of the provincial AIC (Administration for Industry and Commere) offices, they have confiscated counterfeit athletic shoes under the name "New Barlun" in China.
The New Barlun shoes infringe upon New Balance trademark rights and were seized at New Barlun retail locations throughout China, including Dalian, Kunming, Hangzhou, and Beijing.
"New Balance has a strong worldwide campaign against counterfeiting," says Ed Haddad, Area Vice President-International at New Balance. "In addition to being a direct infringement on our trademark rights, consumers and retailers who buy fraudulent products such as New Barlun do not get the warranties, service, and quality that New Balance guarantees. We will continue to expose the infringing activities of New Barlun and protect the rights of New Balance through all necessary means of action.
New Balance and a worldwide network of investigators, led by Harley Lewin, Esq. of Greenburg and Traurig in New York, continue to execute the company's brand/trademark protection program. This has resulted in the confiscation of counterfeit product through more than two dozen raids in 2004 as well as the coordination of local prosecutions.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized performance footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children. The range of product categories includes running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, adventure, and kids. Dunham, an outdoor performance brand inspired by the world outside, joined the New Balance family in Fall 1998. After acquiring the rights to PF Flyers in February 2000, New Balance re-launched the brand in Spring 2003 as authentic active casual footwear. Aravon® comfort performance brand footwear debuted in January 2004 as an unsurpassed blend of fit, comfort, support and style. In early 2004, New Balance acquired Warrior Lacrosse, widely recognized as the world's most cutting edge manufacturer of lacrosse equipment. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. employs more than 2,600 people around the globe, and in 2003 reported worldwide sales of $1.3 billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
