Tuesday, March 7, 2023

MultiChoice destroys 5 000 fake DStv remote controls in brand piracy fight.


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."