Brand Protection
The Mitsubishi Electric Group of companies is proactively engaged in efforts to eradicate counterfeit products in order that Group customers can use our products safely and reliably in pursuit of our corporate purpose of "realizing a vibrant and sustainable society".
Counterfeit products that unlawfully use our corporate logo, company name, or trademarks do not offer guaranteed quality or performance and may lead to product accidents that endanger customers' health and safety. Moreover, the circulation of such sub-standard, counterfeit products can impede sustainable development and growth throughout society.
The Mitsubishi Electric Group of companies shall never tolerate the distribution of counterfeit products and will continue to pursue early and pro-active measures toward their eradication in order to meet the expectations of Group customers who trust and purchase Group brands that earn trust from society.
Global System
Not only are there differences by country and region of those parties attempting to distribute counterfeit products, but differences also exist in terms of the perspectives on brand protection, legal frameworks, and the stance of the regulatory authorities. The Mitsubishi Electric Group has established an overseas presence for intellectual property activities through which the Group coordinates with local partners and collects timely and highly sensitive information for the purpose of implementing responses and actions tailored to the characteristics of the respective country or region.
Approach
The Mitsubishi Electric Group's brand protection strategy is guided by the core policy of achieving effective and fundamental solutions through macro and micro measures. In addition to addressing the sellers, as well as the importers and exporters discovered at market endpoints, the Group also analyzes the composition of the counterfeit supply networks based on findings and the examination of market-wide information and data. The Mitsubishi Electric Group strives to enhance the quality of its brand protection activities by continuously repeating the process of eliminating the infringing parties based on collected information and subsequent monitoring.
Information Gathering and Monitoring
In addition to gathering information broadly from our regional overseas offices, investigative agencies, local authorities, and local business partners, we conduct regular market monitoring to detect counterfeit products.
Investigation & Analysis
For discovered counterfeit products, we conduct indepth investigations to understand the actual conditions across the entire supply chain, including upstream suppliers and trading partners with the aim of establishing the root cause of the counterfeiting.
Infringement Elimination
The Mitsubishi Electric Group undertakes strict action against manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit products to remove such products from the marketplace, including cease and desist letter and cooperation with regulatory and law enforcement authorities for raids and litigation based on intellectual property rights such as trademark rights and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
Measures for online marketplaces have become increasingly important with the rapid growth of e-commerce. Actions that the Mitsubishi Electric Group takes include suspending the sellers' accounts, closing storefronts, and removing sales links.
For examples of specific actions that have been taken, please refer to "Cases of Infringement Elimination"
Customs
The Mitsubishi Electric Group works with customs authorities in various countries to stop and seize the export and import of counterfeit products, thereby preventing their distribution.
To further enhance the effectiveness of these measures, we strengthen relationships with customs through regular exchanges of views and information, and by providing training seminars for frontline customs personnel.
Meeting for exchanging views with Shanghai Customs
Customs seminar
Lobbying
Working with Japanese government agencies and industry groups, the Mitsubishi Electric Group engages with government authorities and e-commerce operators in countries and regions where counterfeit products are frequently found. The Group also submits requests for improving and exchanging views to address legal and operational issues with counterfeit measures (countermeasures).
As counterfeit products spread globally, brand owners are in the same position regardless of industry or competitive relationship. The Mitsubishi Electric Group believes that cooperation among many brand owners across industry boundaries and joint advocacy will lead to a significant effect on stemming the problem of counterfeit product distribution.
Collaboration with E-Commerce Businesses
The Mitsubishi Electric Group builds strong partnerships with e-commerce businesses and leverages the extensive big data they possess to enable the early detection of counterfeit products. Through these efforts, the Group strives to create safe and reliable online marketplaces free from counterfeit products and is committed to continuously strengthening the Group's collaborative efforts to achieve this goal.
Meeting for exchanging views with Alibaba
Updates/Activity
August 2024
Dispatched a delegation to New Delhi and Kolkata, India, as part of the JIPA Global Anti Counterfeiting WG.
April 2024
Participated in seminars hosted by Youyi Customs, Dongxing Customs, and Shenzhen Huanggang Customs in China.