Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group Celebrates World Intellectual Property Day with Seizure of More Than 40,000 pieces of Counterfeit Golf Equipment
PHILADELPHIA, PA –May 8, 2023 – The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (The Golf Group) today announced a series of four raids against a number of golf equipment counterfeiters and counterfeit sellers in China. During the raid action, The Golf Group worked with more than 50 members of the Shanghai Police which conducted raids at assembly plants, warehouses, and apartments in Dongguan and Henan Provinces. This raid announcement comes in conjunction with the recent celebration of World Intellectual Property Day.
In total, more than 44,000 pieces of counterfeit clubs, components, bags and apparel were discovered and seized, including 34,632 labels bearing the marks of several Golf Group members, including Srixon /Cleveland Golf/XXIO, Acushnet Company – Titleist, FJ, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, PXG, Callaway, and PING. These raids were conducted between April 12-13, 2023, and add to the Golf Group’s total of more than two million counterfeit products seized by law enforcement since its inception in 2004.
“As golf continues to grow in popularity across the world, we are thrilled to continue our work to protect this great game and safeguard consumers from purchasing counterfeit golf equipment with these raid actions,” said Lisa Rogan, Director for Acushnet. “Counterfeit sellers are continuing to take notice of our efforts, and we will continue to work with officials across the world to find and punish these offenders to the maximum extent of the law.”
Counterfeit products confiscated in the raids included golf clubs, club heads, shafts, grips, bags, labels, and tools used to facilitate creation of products. Photos of the raid can be found on the Golf Group website www.keepgolfreal.com and on Facebook.
For information on how to avoid counterfeit golf products, how to report suspected counterfeit golf equipment sellers, and updates on the Golf Group’s efforts to protect golfers, consumers are encouraged to visit www.KeepGolfReal.com and www.facebook.com/keepgolfreal.
About the US Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group
The US Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group consists of six of the most well-known golf companies in the world—Acushnet Company, whose brands are Titleist, FootJoy and Scotty Cameron; Callaway-Odyssey; Srixon / Cleveland Golf / XXIO; PING; PXG; TaylorMade and Adams Golf. Formed in 2004, the Golf Group has supported the efforts of international law enforcement and government agencies to conduct raids and investigations of counterfeit operations, as well as raise public awareness of the issue. Since its inception, the Golf Group’s efforts led to the shutdown of more than 1,500 websites and authorities have seized more than two million counterfeit golf products.
