by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice has destroyed 5 000 fake DStv remote controls in the pan-African pay-TV operator's brand piracy fight.
MultiChoice says the counterfit DStv remote controls infringed on the company's DStv logo trademark.
The Randburg-based pay-TV operator says the fake remote controls branded with the DStv logo "undermined MultiChoice's intellectual property rights and
posed a significant threat to the brand owners' profitability and reputation
and were rightfully confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and customs authorities before they were sustainably and environmentally friendly
disposed of by Electronic Cemetery, an environmentally minded e-waste
management company".
Tumi Masekela, MultiChoice head of corporate affairs, in a statement says "MultiChoice
takes this matter very seriously and is committed to protecting its brand and
trademarks from being exploited by pirates".
"The implications of piracy are far-reaching and devastating especially for the
economy."
"It is for this reason MultiChoice has thrown its weight behind
Partners Against Piracy (PAP), a pan-African campaign to fight content piracy.
PAP works to protect the livelihoods of the thousands of creatives and
broadcast professionals and support the local economy."
"We believe that it is crucial to raise public awareness about the importance of
combating counterfeit goods' illegal importation into South Africa. Our efforts
in this regard are part of a broader campaign aimed at protecting consumers and
businesses from the dangers of counterfeiting."
"We urge other businesses to take similar measures to protect their intellectual
property rights and ensure that counterfeit goods are not sold in South Africa," MultiChoice says in the statement.
"We would also like to encourage the public to be vigilant when purchasing goods
and report any suspected counterfeit products to the authorities."
