NIWOT, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2012--
Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) today announced that Chinese courts have
sentenced eighteen individuals to a total of more than 46 years in
prison for producing and selling counterfeit Crocs goods. Seventeen
individuals were convicted of counterfeiting, and two of the 17 also
were convicted of offering bribes. An 18th individual also
was convicted on bribery charges in connection with production of
counterfeit Crocs™ shoes. In addition to prison sentences, the above men
together with another two face fines totaling RMB 2,832,500
(approximately $450,896). Nearly 128,752 pairs of counterfeit Crocs
products valued at roughly RMB 60,000,000 (approximately $9,550,690)
were seized as part of these recent investigations.
“If you attempt to produce or sell infringing Crocs products, we are
going to find you and take definitive action to protect our intellectual
property,” said Dan Hart, chief legal and administrative officer for
Crocs. “The lengthy prison terms and heavy fines handed down in these
cases show that Chinese authorities are very serious about assisting us
to eradicate the production of counterfeit Crocs products in China, and
so are we. We will not tolerate counterfeiters compromising our brand,
and will continue to work with the authorities to hunt down and
prosecute anyone who uses Crocs’ name, design or other intellectual
property without permission.”
The cases were tried by the Shanghai Yangpu District Court and the
Dongguan City No. 1 District Court. Decisions were made between March 13
and September 27, 2012.
“The sentences and fines associated with these cases are encouraging and
reflect the vigor with which the authorities prosecuted these matters,”
said Sara Hoverstock, Crocs regional general counsel for Asia. “As we
continue to monitor and take action against counterfeit activity, we
recognize the important role of the Chinese authorities and appreciate
their support.”
Through September 2012, more than 600,000 pairs of counterfeit Crocs
shoes have been confiscated through factory raids and customs seizures
in China. This has resulted in 35 criminal actions, mainly in Guangdong,
Shanghai and Fujiang Province.
To learn more about Crocs,
visit Crocs.com.
About Crocs, Inc.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, Crocs, Inc. is a world
leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children. Crocs
offers several distinct shoe collections with more than 300 four-season
footwear styles. All Crocs™ shoes feature Croslite™ material, a
proprietary, revolutionary technology that gives each pair of shoes the
soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities
that Crocs fans know and love. Crocs fans "Get Crocs Inside" every pair
of shoes, from the iconic clog to new sneakers, sandals, boots and
heels. Since its inception in 2002, Crocs has sold more than 200 million
pairs of shoes in more than 90 countries around the world. The brand
celebrated reaching $1 billion in annual sales in 2011.
Get social with Crocs – www.crocs.com,
www.facebook.com/crocs,
www.twitter.com/crocs,
www.pinterest.com/crocsshoes.
Source: Crocs, Inc.
Crocs, Inc.
Katy Lachky, 303-848-7000
klachky@crocs.com