Seizures last week include 300 kg of counterfeit black caviar worth more than 1.5 million euros in Moscow, worryingly the caviar was found to be contaminated by E. coli bacteria… The Mozambique authorities seized 13,000 boxes of counterfeit toothpaste, which they fear may contain the potentially deadly chemical diethylene glycol… In France customs seized 15,000 pairs of counterfeit luxury brand sunglasses, other fake luxury goods have been seized in Spain... In the UK imitation Viagra and Cialis drugs have been seized.

Cases and Outcomes last week include popular fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch pursuing counterfeiting allegations against a discount retailer in the US… Also in the US, a Federal Court in New York has entered a final judgment on behalf of Jeweller Tiffany & Co against a retailer that had sold fake Tiffany merchandise; the judgment required the defendants to pay Tiffany $956,793.15… Following operation “Remaster” into a CD and DVD piracy ring in the US two defendants have been sentenced each to 37 months in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $125,000 fine and a $500 mandatory special assessment… In Georgia a man has been convicted of pirating large amounts of Microsoft software, and sentenced to 46 months in prison… Five people from a pharmaceutical company in Northwest China have gone on trial accused of allowing a spurious chemical to be used in the production of drugs, which caused the deaths of 13 patients.

Policy developments last week include Switzerland and India signing a memorandum of understanding to establish a working group to prevent the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit products… A law first introduced in April would allow fashion designers in the US to sue those who copy their creations for up to $250,000 and to appeal for the destruction of pirated goods.