PRODUCT - Music Inc. Magazine

lEVY’S lEATHERS i TRADEMARK
Levy’s Battles Alleged Chinese Trademark Violators
Harvey Levy, vice president of Levy’s
Leathers, recently got an upsetting
phone call from his company’s Chinese
distributor, Ivan Music. The distributor
informed him that Chinese retailers were
complaining that they could purchase
Levy’s Leathers product for significantly
MARTiN i lEGAl
Martin, Sen.
Casey Fight
Unfair Trade
Practices
Sen. Bob Casey
has joined forces
with C.F. Martin to
urge China to end
trade practices that
allegedly harm workers
and businesses in
the Lehigh Valley of
Pennsylvania, as well
as across the country.
Martin’s Chris Martin (left)
“Pennsylvania and Sen. Bob Casey
businesses are telling
me that unfair trade practices by the Chinese
have harmed their ability to compete, and
job losses substantiate those claims,” Casey
said. “The lack of protection on the part
of the Chinese hurts C.F. Martin & Co. and
countless other businesses and workers.”
In January, Music Inc. reported that a
Chinese-based company had acquired the
Martin trademark in China and began making
and marketing its own Martin guitars.
Martin executives said they have
fought to register the Martin trademark
with the Chinese government since
2005 to protect the brand and prevent
China from selling counterfeit guitars.
“We are greatly honored to have an
ongoing relationship with Sen. Casey,
and we can’t express in words how
much we appreciate his openness and
willingness to assist us in rectifying our
dilemma with respect to protecting our
valued trademark in China,” said Chris
Martin, chairman and CEO of Martin.
In January, Casey sent a letter to
President Barack Obama detailing the hardships
imposed on Martin by China’s trade
practices and urging him to press the issue
with Chinese President Hu Jintao during
his visit to Washington, D.C. Casey asked
Obama to focus his discussions around
intellectual property rights protections and
currency valuation. {martinguitar.com}
less than Ivan Music’s price. The product, it
turned out, was counterfeit, but it had the
same look, logo and packaging — down to
the hangtag with Levy’s nephew’s photo.
Levy added that his company’s trademark
has been registered in China, Hong
Kong and Japan, among other countries
outside of Levy’s home base in Canada.
On March 22, Levy announced that his
company hired law firm Baker & McKenzie
to curb the alleged counterfeiters. According
to a statement from Levy, the firm will
begin by reviewing China-based online
auction websites that serve as platforms
for intellectual property infringements.
“I’ve also heard that other North American
manufacturers are seeing their counterfeits
in Europe and the U.K.,” Levy said. “I
can only imagine it won’t be too long until
that’s true for Levy’s, as well, so I’m trying
to nip it in the bud.” {levysleathers.com}
MAY 2011 I MUSIC INC. I 27