IRVINE, Calif., April 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Attorneys for clothing brand Affliction today announced the massive seizure of counterfeits of the highly sought-after brand. When U.S. Customs agents in San Francisco recently inspected certain containers arriving from China, they discovered a treasure trove of what appeared to be genuine product. But because attorneys for Affliction had previously registered the brand's trademarks with Custom and Border Protection (CBP), agents knew to verify whether the goods were authentic before letting them into the country. Affliction's attorneys were then notified of the large shipment and helped determined that the jeans were in fact fakes.

``At this time, the exact quantity of the counterfeit goods is undetermined. However, according to CBP agents, this particular shipment was huge,'' said Eric Goodman, partner with the law firm of Burkhalter Kessler Goodman & George (BKGG).

Once the goods were determined to be counterfeits, CBP officers seized the detained shipment. The case has now been forwarded to the Custom's Office of Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures (FPF) who will initiate the legal process for CBP. Government regulations restrict the disclosure of certain details about the bust until the initial investigation is complete. Eventually, FPF will release additional information about the importer and manufacturer which will enable the brand owner to take further legal action.

BKGG regularly registers their clients' brands with the CBP so that agents will be on the lookout for fake goods trying to make their way into U.S. ports. ``Although the system is relatively new, registering one's trademark with the CBP is proving to be a valuable tool in combating the flow of counterfeit goods,'' said Goodman. In addition to being a partner at BKGG, Goodman is also a professor of Intellectual Property Law at Whittier Law School. ``Protecting consumers from being duped into buying cheap knockoffs instead of authentic goods is the cornerstone of trademark law,'' Goodman continued. ``This latest seizure of counterfeit goods is a reminder that brand owners need to be proactive in protecting their valuable trademarks.''

About BKGG

BKGG specializes in intellectual property law and brand protection. The firm provides comprehensive solutions for protection of intellectual property rights, including registration of trademarks and copyrights in the U.S. and worldwide, patent prosecution and monitoring, investigation of questionable activity on the Internet and elsewhere and litigation of trademark, copyright, patent and trade secret infringement claims.

          Bock Communications 
          Ty Sheppard
          (714) 540-1030
          tsheppard@bockpr.com