FUJIFILM SLAMS ROGUE TRADERS OF DATA TAPES
Counterfeit storage tapes land several channel firms in hot water
Written by Caroline Donnelly
CRN, 15 Feb 2010
A channel-wide clampdown on counterfeit data tape products has resulted in Fujifilm taking action against several resellers.
Last month, Fujifilm issued a statement urging channel firms to look out for second-hand data storage tapes that were being imported into the UK packaged as new, despite being up to 10 years old.
The statement revealed the vendor had "sought a number of undertakings" against unnamed firms with which it had settled out of court.
Channel sources have since revealed that the vendor has claimed damages against Berkshire-based reseller ImageStore and at least one other channel firm.
Stuart Humphrey, sales director at ImageStore, said his firm had "unknowingly" acquired the tapes from a US firm before selling them on.
This, Humphrey said, had resulted in Fujifilm claiming "not a huge amount of money" from ImageStore in an "amicable" agreement.
Staffordshire-based storage reseller Media Resources said it had also been affected.
The firm said it had "unwittingly" received counterfeit tapes from a UK source, which it gave to Fujifilm.
Nicholas Tomkinson-Hill, sales director at Media Resources, said: "We have been happy to comply with Fujifilm by handing over the tapes and invoices proving where they were purchased."
Roger Moore, strategic business manager at Fujifilm, did not comment on the identity of the unnamed firms, but said Fujifilm was clamping down on rogue traders.
He said: "If we come across any firm engaged in copyright infringement or any illegal practices concerning our products, we will act swiftly."
FujiFilm is not the only data tape vendor in the midst of a counterfeiting clampdown, as Quantum Storage has also revealed that it has been forced to take legal action against several unscrupulous resellers.
Dave Singleton, EMEA media sales manager at Quantum, explained: "We have already won lawsuits against two companies and reached an out-of-court settlement with another, and we will continue to pursue those that sell defective, recycled, repackaged, and/or seconds quality tapes as new, as well as those that infringe Quantum's trademarks and copyrights."
reader comments
Second-hand / counterfeit data tapes
I would like to ask who did ImageStore and Media Resources purchase the second-hand / counterfeit tapes from? Is it normal practice to purchase data storage tapes from the USA for resale in the UK?
Posted by: Matthew Gwynn - PMD Magnetics, 15 Feb 2010
Clarification of Trademark Infringement
No - this isn't normal practice. Just to clarify, purchasing from outside the E.U. (as well as "passing off" tapes as new) infringes Fujifilm's trademark and the company will take action as highlighted above.
Posted by: Ruth Payne, Fujifilm UK Ltd, 02 Mar 2010
Source: CRN - channelweb.co.uk
