|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
|
Shapiro’s trademark counterfeiting bill approved by committee
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, last week secured the House Judiciary Committee's unanimous approval for his bill to strengthen Pennsylvania’s trademark counterfeiting law.
Shapiro’s bill (H.B. 2133) would reinstate trademark protections that were overturned last October by the state Supreme Court and clarify the offense of trademark counterfeiting. Since the ruling in October, law enforcement agents have been limited to misdemeanor charges in trademark counterfeiting cases.
"This legislation is needed as my bill seeks to remedy a gaping hole in our law," explained Shapiro. "My bill will help law enforcement punish trademark counterfeiters and ensure that products sold to Pennsylvanians are legitimate. This is an important tool needed to protect businesses and consumers in our state."
According to Stuart Drobny of Stumar Investigations, a Montgomery County firm representing a number of trademark holders across the country, very little can be done to stop trademark counterfeiters until the protections are reinstated.
"During the 2009 World Series, we were forced to serve trademark counterfeiters with cease and desist letters -- no arrests were made as the laws left on the books are a slap on the wrist at best," explained Drobny.
Drobny testified to a meeting of the Judiciary Committee in November urging the committee to take up legislation to reinstate trademark protections.
House Bill 2133 would create criminal penalties for knowingly manufacturing, selling, offering for sale or intending to sell, displaying or advertising, distributing or transporting any item or services bearing or indentified by a counterfeit mark for the purposes of commercial advantage or financial gain.
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.