Episode 18: Fake vapes, Puma wins victory over a logistics company helping counterfeiters, and how to justify your brand protection budget.

Show notes - Imitation Nation #18

In this episode, we cover:

The International Trademark Association published a quick 14 page handout on making the case for Return on Investment for your company’s anticounterfeiting program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last week announced the seizure of 4.7 million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products with an estimated retail value of $86.5 million – the largest-ever seizure of this kind. The seizures were part of a joint federal operation in Chicago to examine incoming shipments and prevent illegal e-cigarettes from entering the country. And simultaneous enforcement actions across the U.S. The seizures, done in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration, with enforcement actions carried out at five distributors and five retailers in North Carolina, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida, she said.

Puma’s enormous legal victory in German court against a logistics provider for providing logistics for a counterfeiter. It’s a big case, but the key is that it creates new liability for logistics carriers that we didn’t think existed before.

Quick news hits:

• 2,500 shipping containers seized by Greek law enforcement
• Temu Agrees to $2M Civil Penalty and Injunction for Alleged Violations of the INFORM Consumers Act
• Korean Intellectual Property Office boosts 2026 budget to enhance K-brand protection
• High-quality counterfeit  $CAD100 bills circulating in Simcoe County Canada, police warn. But Bank of Canada posted a full review of security features on YouTube, which could almost be seen as a how to guide for forgers. 
• DOJ and DHS Launch Cross-Agency Trade Fraud Task Force
• Fake Labubu dolls described as 'most dangerous counterfeit toys ever seized'