07 November 2024

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. announces that a suspect named in the lawsuit filed by the Company in China has been arrested and convicted of charges related to trademark infringement.

In May 2023, Sumitomo Electric filed a criminal complaint with the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau against an individual vendor who was manufacturing and selling counterfeit versions of its optical fiber cleaver products and electrode products for optical fiber fusion splicers, alleging infringement of the Company’s trademark rights. In response, the authorities conducted a crackdown on the vendor, seized thousands of counterfeit items, and arrested the suspect.The suspect was subsequently prosecuted by the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Procuratorate and was convicted by the Shanghai Pudong New Area Court in August 2024.

　　Party convicted: A manufacturer and distributor of counterfeit products
　　Targeted Products: The FC-6 Optical Fiber Cleaver Series - 1 type
　　Electrodes for optical fiber fusion splicer – 1 type
　　Rights involved: Six  trademarks of 住友, SUMITOMO, and Igeta mark

Sumitomo Electric will continue to take a resolute stance against the sale of counterfeit products that infringe on its intellectual property rights. Through these activities, the Company strives to protect its customers by ensuring the safe use of its products and to maintain and enhance customer trust in its products.