THIEVES abound. Whether in public or in private domain, they are all over. But some of the most pathetic are the fakers, those wicked, God-less traders who stamp the name of an established brand on the products they sell for greed-laden gain. They are as worse as blood-sucking loan sharks.
By doing that, they easily make a killing, hitching on the popularity of world-class material to stash away ill-gotten profits that make them instant millionaires at the expense of hapless, unwary car buffs.
If these conscienceless morons should burn in the fires of hell very soon, it is but nature’s way of evening up matters.
In the motoring industry, the evil these traders do is called counterfeiting.
I cite in particular, the classic case of Wheel Gallery’s exclusive right to use, distribute, sell and otherwise deal with goods bearing the trademark Black Rhino in relation to wheels, rims and vehicle accessories in the Philippines.
Sammy & Johnny
WHEEL Gallery Inc., owned jointly by Sammy Liuson and Johnny Tan, and its authorized agents are also enjoined by their contract with Just Wheels & Tires Co. to protect and enforce the company’s intellectual property rights into the legendary trademark Black Rhino of the US in the Philippines.
Only very recently, Wheel Gallery found, to its utter dismay, that Christine Jao Ang, the listed proprietor of CJAO Auto Accessories on Kabignayan Street, Banawe, Quezon City, was selling counterfeit Black Rhino wheels. As proof, Wheel Gallery bought Ang’s counterfeit Black Rhino wheel, took a photo of it and sent it to CJAO Auto Accessories as evidence in case criminal charges are filed soon.
Counsel Claire Corral of Wheel Gallery had written Ang and she was demanded for the following:
1) Cease and desist from using the Black Rhino marks, or any marks similar to the Black Rhino marks;
2) Cease and desist from distributing, marketing and selling counterfeit wheels and related goods bearing the Black Rhino marks;
3) Acknowledge that the Black Rhino marks are owned by Counsel Corral’s client;
4) Refrain from registering or attempting to register the Black Rhino marks or any marks similar to the Black Rhino marks;
5) Deliver up all counterfeit items bearing the Black Rhino marks that are in Ang’s possession;
6) Provide detailed information on the manufacturer and/or supplier of the counterfeit Black Rhino wheels and execute a corresponding written statement;
7) Acknowledge that Just Wheels & Tires Co is the owner of the mark Black Rhino for wheels and publish a corresponding apology in a newspaper of general circulation with regard to Ang’s unauthorized use of the mark Black Rhino for counterfeit wheels; and,
8) Execute an undertaking reflecting the foregoing.
‘Nobody gets jailed’
IN ending her letter, Corral told Ang “that her client has several options under Philippine laws to enforce its legal rights…as in to seek injunction, actual monetary damages, return of profits that Ang has obtained through her use of the Black Rhino marks, and reimbursements of attorney’s fees, among others.”
When contacted through emissaries, the camp of Ang refused to budge and had even allegedly said, “Wala naman nakukulong sa mga kasong ganito [Nobody gets jailed for cases like these].”
I have nothing against people doing business in Banawe, QC. But aren’t many stolen vehicle parts and accessories found in many car shops there, not to mention counterfeit products being peddled there in wild abandon—many of which, because they are imitations, endanger lives of unknowing victims?
And why do our authorities continue to look the other way has remained the template question that has been left unanswered since the invention of the Toyota Corolla.
Now, if Ang isn’t guilty as being portrayed by Wheel Gallery, it is but right that she says it so. It’s been almost four months since Counsel Corral has sent her the letter.
Wheel makers also wait with bated breath.
PEE STOP. For years, I suffered with my woeful wipers. Several times, a mechanic had replaced them with new ones—each time, to no avail. Only when Olson Camacho took over that my seemingly eternal wiper woes were finally resolved. I got to know of Olson’s genius through his bosom buddy Dino Directo. Dino is an esteemed colleague from Manila Standard. Cheers, Olson! I owe you not just one but lots!…Here’s to Honda Cars Philippines for its most generous gesture of charging only P27,000 for washover/repainting jobs of owners of Brio, Amaze, City, Jazz and Civic. That’s half of the usual P54,000 fee. For the same service on CR-V, Accord, Pilot and Odyssey, the price is another steal at P33,000. And what about this: All Honda parts are 70 percent off! The promos are from June 15 to September 30. Bravo!…Need a new tint for your car? Avoid Banawe and instead go to the true expert, who happens to be a friend of Lexus Manila President Danny “Sir John” Isla. I should know. I was a very recent customer. Satisfied to the max. Cheers!