Judges Say Google Background Checks Are Okay
MPAA Math: 40% Plus 70% Equals?

That Fake Rolex You Buy In China May Cost You More Than The Real Thing

Legal Issues

from the after-customs-has-its-way-with-you dept

Wed, May 9th 2007 9:54pm — Mike Masnick
Petréa Mitchell writes in to let us know about yet another case where trademark protection is being abused. "A guy decided to bring back some obviously fake Rolexes from China as souvenirs for his family. This was probably not a bright idea in any case, but US Customs thinks it's worth fining him $55,300. The fine is allegedly based on the street value of real Rolex watches, but he points out that there's no way anyone would pay a full Rolex price for fakes as obvious as these. The government says he should be glad it's only $55,300, because if Rolex had gotten personally involved it could have been $100,000... per watch." This one raises all sorts of questions. The thing is, buying these fake Rolexes shouldn't be against the law -- selling them should be. However, the guy wasn't caught selling them. Either way, while aren't there more important things for Customs to be doing than fining people for wearing fake Rolexes?
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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 May 2007 @ 8:22pm

    call it by it's real name

    The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

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