Hong Kong customs has approached the trademark owners of popular brands Labubu and Chiikawa to establish records that will help combat counterfeits, with the Post learning the city currently has no way of cracking down on fakes featuring the characters.
Advertisement
The distributor of hugely popular doll Labubu, Pop Mart, and Nagano Co, the firm that registered the trademark for Japanese manga character Chiikawa, have not completed recordation procedures needed by the Customs and Excise Department to root out fakes, according to a source.
A customs spokesman said the department had contacted the trademark owners.
“The department is greatly concerned about the matter and has proactively reached out to the relevant trademark owners for liaison and follow-up [action],” he said.
The source said that trademark holders had a procedure to conduct with customs’ Recordation Office so the department could investigate suspected piracy or counterfeiting activities and seize goods.
Advertisement
“Customs cannot act upon any suspected fake dolls if there is no recordation with the department,” the source said.