MultiChoice secures another win against piracy and counterfeit goods
MultiChoice, in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Customs Authorities, has successfully concluded legal proceedings under the Counterfeit Goods Act No. 37 of 1997 against Uni Li Cell (Pty) Ltd and its sole director. This action followed the interception of approximately 5,000 counterfeit chargers and power supply units falsely branded to resemble DStv decoders, seized at Durban Harbour on June 13, 2024. The counterfeit items bore the mark “Dtv,” closely mimicking the registered DStv trademarks, posing significant risks to consumers and brand integrity.
As part of the settlement, the importer agreed to surrender all infringing goods and contributed R40,000.00 towards costs. The counterfeit products were destroyed in a controlled process, with recyclable components like copper wiring and cardboard packaging recovered responsibly. This case is part of a broader enforcement effort, including the recent detention of an additional 30,600 counterfeit chargers bearing marks similar to DStv trademarks. These actions reflect a strengthened national stance against counterfeit trade, with all such detentions now submitted for criminal prosecution under procedures adopted by SAPS, the Commercial Crime Unit (CCU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
