Action Plagiarius, which each year hands out its ‘name and shame’ award to deter counterfeiters, has now opened a museum in Solingen, Germany, exhibiting its 30-year collection of counterfeit goods.

In 1977, when Professor Rido Busse announced the first Plagiarius award to a Japanese company for shamelessly copying some scales he had designed for a German interior decoration firm, the event attracted little attention. But the following year several companies sent him counterfeit copies of their original designs and the idea took off. This year the award – a black garden gnome with a golden nose – was handed out to 12 counterfeiting companies for products ranging from petrol pump nozzles, to shopping bags, to medical implements. The publicity resulting from the activities of Action Plagiarus helps to increase awareness among the public of the problem of counterfeiting; and among entrepreneurs and designers of the importance of protecting their IP rights. The organization says that some "prize winners" acknowledge their unethical behavior and seek agreements with the original producer (e.g. payment of a licence or compensation fee, or withdrawal of the product from the market).

Like the award, the Plagiarius Museum, which opened on April 1, focuses on goods produced by small companies and designers. These are the hardest hit by the effects of counterfeiting, often having invested all their resources, as well as their own creative efforts, in getting their product to market. They do not have the consumer brand recognition of major trademarks to protect them, nor the funds and know how to fight off counterfeiters. Action Plagiarius also offers legal advice and workshops to small companies to them help fight against counterfeiters.

he Prizewinners of the Plagiarius-Competition 2007:

The Jury met on January 20, 2007. Three prizes, six distinctions and three special prizes have been awarded; total entities: 58.

Image rights: Action Plagiarius Photos: left or above: original - right or below: plagiarism

1.


Jug „Sophie“
Original: alfi GmbH, Wertheim, Germany
Plagiarism: He Shan Jia Hui Vacuum Flask & Vessel Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, P.R. China

2.


Notebook „Moleskine“
Original: Manufacturer: Moleskine S.r.l., Milano, Italy
Distribution: Authentics GmbH, Gütersloh, Germany
Plagiarism: ars nova GmbH Großhandel für Künstlermaterialien, Witten, Germany

3.



Sweeper „TopSweep 55“
Original: Ing. Haaga Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Kirchheim/Teck, Germany
Plagiarism: Wuyi Zhouyi Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang, P.R. China