Counterfeiter pleads guilty for selling fake Polo by Ralph Lauren garments

By S.S.Selvanayagam

On a complaint made by Polo/Lauren Co. LLP the registered owners of Polo and Polo by Ralph Lauren  based in New York, a team of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)raided a large stock of counterfeit garments from a location in Nugegoda.

The Complainant is a globally famous company, selling luxury men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings to customers worldwide.

Ralph Lauren Corporation began with the 1967 founding of the Polo Ralph Lauren company by American designer Ralph Lauren and has a large clientele worldwide who rely on the quality of their products. 

It was confirmed by the complainant company that the garments seized at the raid were counterfeit and the material and thread used by the counterfeiters were of poor quality and way below standard. 

 Sri Lanka’s reputation of being a manufacturing base for garments has also opened up avenues for the production of fake goods coming into the market for domestic sale and export.

The sale of counterfeit products causes confusion, as the consumer is misled into believing that the product originates from the same manufacturer. As a result of counterfeits being in the market the loss of reputation caused to the rightful owner is irreparable and the economic loss to the country is colossal.

The sale of counterfeit goods is an infringement under the Intellectual Property Act No 36. of 2003.Under said act, if a person and/or persons are convicted, a fine up to Rs. 500,000.00, and up to 6 months imprisonment, or both may be imposed. 

The case was taken up in the Magistrate’s Court of Nugegoda. Upon the accused, pleading guilty to the charges the   Magistrate ordered a fine of Rs 10,000.00 to be paid to the state and the counterfeit garments to be destroyed.  Sudath Perera Associates appeared for the Complainant Polo/Lauren Co. LLP