Samsung wins legal battle against illegal importers

Dhaka District Judge Court has recently ruled against the illegal importers of mobile and consumer electronics (TV, Monitor etc.) products. The court in its ruling has imposed a permanent injunction on the illegal importers to import, market, distribute and sell all Samsung branded products.

Earlier in 2015, a case was filed with the Dhaka District Judge Court by Samsung Electronics Company Limited (South Korea) and Samsung India Electronics Limited through Samsung Bangladesh office against 10 illegal mobile phone importers and 11 illegal consumer electronics product importers.

Illegal import and sales of such products are harmful for the national economy and hence such import and sales are prohibited under the law. According to the Section 15 of Import Policy Order 2015-18, it is prohibited to import products under fake trademark and false marketing. Not only that, national law and order and public safety is also affected by the illegal import and sales of technology products like mobile phone. Hence, BTRC has recently initiated registration of all mobile devices.

According to the Section 6 of the Import Policy Order 2015-18 and the Copyrights Act/Rules, it is mandatory to show attested intellectual copyright certificate of the brand owner to the Customs Authority, which the illegal importers have been deliberately disregarding. It is to be noted that the Samsung trademark was registered in Bangladesh since 1993.

Statistically, 40 out of every 100 mobile devices imported in the country are imported illegally. In case of TV import, every 25 out of 100 are imported illegally.

Shafiqul M Islam, Head of Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations, Samsung Bangladesh Office, said, “We welcome this groundbreaking ruling from honorable court. This will encourage the legal businesses, government will receive its deserved revenue and the users will be saved from the deception of the unscrupulous businessmen. We hope that the customs authority will be further aware while releasing consignments, and the law enforcement agencies will be
prompt to shut down illegal business activities.”

He also said, “We always request our customers to buy original Samsung products from the authorized showrooms. Illegal products do not have Samsung warranty or guarantee, and after sales services will not be available for these products.”