Bulgarian Authorities Seize Levi Strauss, H&M, Puma Counterfeits

On November 19, 2010, Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry reported that considerable quantities of counterfeit apparel and footwear bearing well-known brand names have been seized in the towns of Blagoevgrad and Gabrovo, southwestern and central northern Bulgaria.

In Blagoevgrad, over 15,000 clothing items such as shirts and blouses, bearing among others the labels of Levi Strauss and H&M, were seized after the authorities discovered a factory that continued to illegitimately produce the goods after its contract with Levi Strauss expired. The ministry informed that the infringers stored the counterfeit apparel in a warehouse and sold it over the Internet.

In Gabrovo, the police officials discovered and seized an unidentified quantity of counterfeit Puma footwear and footwear production equipment, reportedly also because the production continued after the contract expired.

According to authorities, pre-trial proceedings are underway in both cases.

For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan Regional Office.

Source: Sofiaecho.com, website with news from Bulgaria in English