HK customs have arrested 12 people selling A-bike imitations

by **Amuro Lee** on Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:01 am

Hong Kong customs have arrested 12 people allegedly selling foldable bicycles which breached the territory’s copyright laws, a spokesman said on Friday....

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/lawa ... 2cc63b.htm

Photo Source:
http://appledaily.atnext.com/template/a ... d=10041867

by **Amuro Lee** on Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:25 pm

Press Release of Hong Kong SAR Government on Friday
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2007 ... 170241.htm

Customs seizes copyright-infringing foldable bicycles
*****************************************************

Hong Kong Customs officers in an operation yesterday (August 16) targeted copyright-infringing foldable bicycles sold in shops and auctioned on the Internet.

After extensive investigation based on information provided by a copyright owner, officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau yesterday raided eight shops located in Mong Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Tai Po, Ma On Shan and Fanling.

They seized 29 copyright-infringing foldable bicycles worth $66,700 and arrested nine men and a woman, aged between 41 and 60. Nine of those arrested shop owners and one was a shop attendant.

Officers of the Anti-Internet Piracy Team suspected that there were copyright-infringing foldable bicycles auctioned on a local auction website.

With the assistance of an Internet service provider, Customs officers located the computer involved and last night in Mong Kok arrested two men, both aged 31.

In a follow-up investigation, the officers seized a foldable bicycle and two sets of computer, worth $14,300, on the residential premises of the two men, in Mong Kok and Tuen Mun.

All those arrested are on bail pending further investigations.

The Divisional Commander of the Copyright Investigation Division, Mr Koon Hon-chuen, today (August 17) reminded shop owners to stay away from dubious sources when they were sourcing goods for their shops. "If in doubt, shop owners should approach the respective authorised dealers of the copyrighted goods."

Under the Copyright Ordinance, anyone who knowingly possesses an infringing copy of a copyright work in the course of business commits a criminal offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 per article and imprisonment for four years.

Ends/Friday, August 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:26

NNNN

by **newcross** on Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:09 pm

This could be the first arrest over fake A-bike in the world. Thank you for this interesting news, Amuro!

Bintz's google profile(Buzz) · by **Binch Shin** on Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:39 am

Very good news, Amuro!!

Thank you so much. :wink:

by **Amuro Lee** on Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm

Press Release of DAKA
http://www.daka.com.hk/press/news_aug1707.htm

by **anotherguest** on Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:30 am

Amuro Lee, thanks for giving us all this info. Ineresting to read.

Justice is justice. Cheaters should know the copyrighters wants to protect their investments. took a long time to develop the A-bike for sure. Many involved so could be expensive and the Fakers make a less good copy that could easily break under us so it is not good behavior to cheat.

From a human to human point of view I could feel for the cheaters but we have to set up punishment so they fear for the consequences.

How else to protect the investment?

by **Amuro Lee** on Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:10 pm

Cable News on 17 August 2007 in Hong Kong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nig_80VRptM

by **LucC** on Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:38 am

I linked from abikecentral.com to eBay and placed a bid a few days ago. Today I notice that the seller has added a note saying that the item is a REPLICA.
Now I can't see how to withdraw my bid.
What does it mean by replica??

by **newcross** on Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:26 am

LucC wrote:I linked from abikecentral.com to eBay and placed a bid a few days ago. Today I notice that the seller has added a note saying that the item is a REPLICA.
Now I can't see how to withdraw my bid.
What does it mean by replica??

They mean "counterfeit".... it's a fake. Contact seller to withdraw your bid since you didn't know it was a 'replica' when you placed your bid. Do it gently and if the seller doesn't accept your claim, that's the time to report to eBay. (actually, you can report to eBay to eliminate the listing right away if you want.)

A problem with eBay listing under A-bike central's "where to Buy" is that it's an automated process to show those listing with a keyword 'sinclair'.... This doesn't guarantee it's authenticity

by **Guest** on Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:53 pm

I 'won' the bid at £50 ... do you think it would be worth it?

Seems to me this bike a high-precision thing requiring top quality components etc. so probably not worth buying at any price?

by **lozisung** on Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:20 pm

Just inform ebay that it is a fake and you did not know when you made the bid as the seller only added the info later.

Buying a fake is potentially dangerous as it has not had to pass any tests in terms of safety.

Also, there is no warranty which can be called upon if it breaks.

You will be throwing money away the moment anything on it breaks.

It is easier to inform ebay and pay a little more for a used genuine one, or pay full price from a genuine distributor.

Remember, quality components of A-Bike may mean the difference between riding safely on the road or something snapping whilst you are in traffic and the consequences could be disastrous!