Football counterfeiter ordered to pay for disposal of fake goods

A man has been ordered to pay the cost of the destruction of a consignment of counterfeit UEFA merchandise after the trademark owners exhibited evidence to prove the validity of their claim of a breach in intellectual property rights

14 boxes containing 336 balls bearing the 'Champions League' trademark had been discovered during a customs inspection
14 boxes containing 336 balls bearing the 'Champions League' trademark had been discovered during a customs inspection

A Maltese court has upheld a request from UEFA that it order the destruction of 576 counterfeit footballs which were seized in Malta in July.



Jiddou Mohamed, who appears to reside in Mauritania, was also ordered to pay for the costs of disposing of the consignment.

UEFA's lawyer Peter Fenech, had claimed that the intellectual property rights of the European football governing body had been breached by the defendant.

Judge Mark Chetcuti, presiding the First Hall of the Civil Court, had been told that 14 boxes containing 336 balls bearing the 'Champions League' trademark had been discovered during a customs inspection on board the CMA CGM Norma on 18 July 2016, together with another 10 boxes containing 240 balls emblazoned with the "Euro 2016" logo.

The court was told how samples of the merchandise in the container had confirmed that they were not genuine and had been manufactured without the consent of Unilever NV. The boxes bore the company's trademarks, as well as distinctive elements that didn't correspond with the company's normal practices.

UEFA, as owners of the trademark that is registered with the EU Intellectual Property Office, had exhibited documents and other evidence to prove the validity of their claim.

Upholding the plaintiff's request, the court ordered the Comptroller of Customs to destroy the counterfeit products within 90 days from the date of the judgement.