Brand Protection
Epson's Brand Protection Activities
Epson's Policy Against Counterfeit Products
Epson is actively engaged in anti-counterfeiting measures aimed at ensuring that customers can use Epson products safely and securely. When counterfeit products are inferior products that do not have the quality that customers have come to expect from Epson products, there is a risk that customer safety may be compromised, which in turn could undermine the value of the Epson brand that customers have come to trust and have a serious impact on Epson's business activities.
Based on our Management Philosophy that emphasizes a relationship of trust with our customers and society, Epson operates our business with the utmost respect for the rights of others in accordance with laws, regulations, and corporate ethics. At the same time, in order to ensure that Epson's legitimate rights are also respected, in addition to taking legal action against counterfeit products, Epson is taking strict legal action, in accordance with laws and regulations, against products that infringe on Epson's intellectual property rights.
What are Counterfeit Products of Epson products ?
Counterfeit products of Epson products include ink cartridges, ink bottles, ink ribbons, and toner, which are consumables for printer products, as well as watches and replacement lamps for projectors.
As shown in the case studies below, counterfeit products are goods made to appear genuine by imitating the brand name, product shape, and other product features. In many cases, they are indistinguishable from the genuine item at first glance, and customers may mistakenly purchase them for the real thing.
Epson's Measures Against Counterfeit Products
In order to protect our valued customers from being harmed by counterfeit products, Epson is promoting the 4 NOs Activity, which consists of "NO manufacturing," "NO importing/exporting," "NO selling," and "NO buying."
Epson is collaborating with relevant government agencies worldwide to raid manufacturers, manufacturing plants, and warehouses that are the production bases of counterfeit products, with the aim of eliminating counterfeit products from the very foundation of the industry.
Case: Manufacturing equipment and ink bottles exposed at a counterfeit goods manufacturing plant in China
Epson collaborates with customs offices worldwide to stop the import and export of counterfeit goods at national borders. In Japan and the U.S., customs offices also stop counterfeit goods based on patent or design rights, as well as trademark rights.
Cases: Examples of goods seized at Japan Customs
Source (Japanese only):
1) Produced from "Status of Border Control of Goods Infringing Intellectual Property Rights, 2019"
(Customs website)
(https://www.customs.go.jp/tokyo/content/tokyo_chizai_R1-2.pdf)
2) Produced from "Status of Border Control of Goods Infringing Intellectual Property Rights, First Half
2020" (Customs website)
(https://www.customs.go.jp/tokyo/content/tokyo_chizai_R2kami-2.pdf)
3) Produced from "Status of Border Control of Goods Infringing Intellectual Property Rights, 2020"
(Customs website)
(https://www.customs.go.jp/tokyo/content/tokyo_chizai_R2_2.pdf)
Epson conducts warnings, raids, and lawsuits against physical stores that sell
counterfeit goods to prevent them from selling counterfeit goods in their stores.
In the online marketplace, which has been rapidly expanding in recent years, Epson monitors online
marketplaces in about 40 countries and regions worldwide and requests deletion of more than 100,000
listings of counterfeit products and fraudulent labels per year.
In addition, Epson is also making efforts to educate dealers who handle Epson products.
Case: Example of a listing that was deleted as selling counterfeit products in the online market
Awareness-raising activities on the existence of counterfeit products are also
important to prevent customers from purchasing counterfeit products, and Epson is conducting such
activities in stores, online, and at trade shows.
In addition, in areas where counterfeit products are particularly prevalent, labels that allow customers
to determine the authenticity of the product themselves are used.
Case: Scene of a seminar on authenticity
(Epson's counterfeit products introduction booth at the "China International Fair for Investment and Trade" in September 2019)
Global Measures Against Counterfeits
In line with our policy against counterfeit products, Epson is protecting consumers from harm posed by counterfeits by continuing to halt their manufacture and sale in countries and regions worldwide.
Below we introduce some recent examples of measures against counterfeits, taken in China as well as in other parts of Asia and Latin America.
China.
An online seller and a manufacturer of counterfeit ink bottles were raided (2024).
Seized items: Approx. 20,000 ink bottles and 450,000 other parts
Bangladesh.
A store of counterfeit ink bottles was raided (2024).
Seized items: Approx. 4,000 ink bottles
Philippines.
A production site of counterfeit ink bottles was raided (2024).
Seized items: Approx. 8,200 ink bottles and 10,000 other parts
U.S.A.
Seizure of imported counterfeit ink bottles by Customs (2024).
Seized items: Approx. 80,000 ink bottles
Ecuador.
A store and a warehouse selling counterfeit ink bottles were raided (2024).
Seized items: Approx. 180,000 ink bottles
Lobbying Activities Directed Toward Government and Regulatory Authorities, as well as E-Commerce Platform Operators Across Various Regions
One of Epson's top strategic priorities at present is engaging in lobbying activities directed toward regulatory authorities across various regions. Concurrently, Epson is also intensifying its lobbying efforts with globally prominent e-commerce platform operators.
Where feasible, Epson undertakes lobbying initiatives independently. However, in cases where direct engagement proves challenging, we convey our positions to the relevant governmental bodies through external organizations. A notable example of such an approach is our collaboration with the International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF) to advocate for our interests.
Outlined below are several recent examples of our lobbying activities.
Examples of Lobbying Activities Independently Undertaken by Epson (Philippines / China)
Source:
Philippines:A post by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines | Facebook
China(Chinese only):Taotian Group and Seiko Epson Group have strengthened their strategic partnership to foster a new ecosystem for intellectual property protection
Examples of Lobbying Activities Conducted Through the IIPPF (Philippines / Thailand / Vietnam / India)
Source:
Philippines:A post by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines | Facebook
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