This could be the beginning of the end for Chibanez Inc.

[Davey]

Looking through my favourite video game news site, I found this as a main story...

China's 100-day anti-piracy campaign crushes IP thieves

Approximately 13 million pirated CD's and DVD's have been destroyed by authorities in China since a 100-day anti piracy campaign. So far 8,907 shops have been closed down, 942 illegal websites and 481 publishing companies.


quote:

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From unlicensed factories to street vendors, police have begun to seize assets, materials and fake products in the nations' largest clampdown of counterfeit intellectual property, reports the Xinhua News Agency.

Police and copyright officers have so far closed down 8,907 shops and street vendors, 481 publishing companies and 942 illegal websites.

Chinese vice premier Wu Yi met with US ambassadors earlier this month to commit to combat piracy and protect the rights and interests of intellectual property owners.


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News Source: Gamesindustry.biz

Check this bit again...

From unlicensed factories to street vendors, police have begun to seize assets, materials and fake products in the nations' largest clampdown of counterfeit intellectual property, reports the Xinhua News Agency.

I'm really hoping they busted the main suppliers of the guitar fakes for obvious reasons and if they did, we should make it out mission to spread the word and get everbody that owns one to burn it in a mass worldwide ritual *muwhahahaha*

Seriously, I wonder how this is going to effect e-bay now? If the US ambassadors are teaming with the Chinese government, who's laws does e-bay abide by? I think it SHOULD be the US because that's where the head company originates.

This ones for all you peeps without a truss rod

[Davey]

By the way, for those that might stumble (cos' you know somebody will think this) The "IP" in "IP thieves" doesn't mean your computer address, it means "Intellectual Property".

[Davey]

Am I the only one that thinks this is about damn time?

[andy7jem]

One thing though, without chibanez's on the market people here will have to find something else to complain about

Seriously though,hope they do actually make a difference.

[LLL777]

Nice orchestrated show for the media IMO.
99% of the government is probably getting kickbacks and hush money from the pirates.
Guitars may account for only a small percentage of the pirate market so don't expect any serious crackdown. Any more shows will be where the big mainstream money is: software, movies, music, etc.

[ChopTart]

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

Am I the only one that thinks this is about damn time?

Well said, mr. Flying Dog, well said...

[TongueShredder]

Geeze just wondering what happens to all the Chibanez if all these companies are busted. Probably they would end up in Toys "R" Us.

[Demiurge]

Well, there has been reason to believe that the same factories that produce the fakes also produce other cheapo guitars, like most of the $150 guitars on the 'bay that either have no name on the headstock or some generic name (Titan, M'Guitars, etc.). As far as the JEM copies go, once they take the decal off the headstock and enlarge the monkey grip, they'll basically be "legit" again- the guitars no longer being frauds as much as comical attempts at copying.

[dex]

This news has nothing to do with Ibanez or guitars, it's about Software/Music/DVDs etc, and anyone who's been to places like Thailand, Russia, Phillipines will tell you that there's no fighting this type of piracy until the prices of legit media goes down.

And even if they shut down China's producers completely places like Russia, Indonesia, Phillipines etc will keep copying stuff and selling it at street markets.
And I'm not talking about a guy with a DVD-R sitting at home copying either - I'm talking about factories pressing fake everything you can think of (PS2 games, DVDs, CDs and so on) with the final product being identical (save for the packaging) to the original.

People who make $3/day working for Gap/Nike will not in a million years pay $10 for a CD so IP piracy is here to stay.

As far as the guitar thing goes, if you are stupid enough to think that this is an auction for a real jem

Originally Posted by cluelsess chinese evilbay seller

Remark:We are honored very much for you recommend this item, had it, your life on many several minute appeal It can take to you in the spirit to be joyful Art always can bring the happy mood to the person Your family member also can very happy receive this you to take to their accident to be pleasantly sur prised Because it not merely is an art ware, but also is representing you to the life the deep love We have more than 7-year experience of engaging in this business before we use the evilbay. So please bid with confidence in spite of my new evilbayer identityBased in Beijing, the capital of China with rich cultural heritage,helezhubao can reach many diversified high quality traditional artworks and handicrafts with lower cost. We try to build a great bridge to transport those services and products with inexpensive price to you. If you love it ,please do not missing this good chance to get it !Enjoying your bidding

or

Originally Posted by cluelsess chinese evilbay seller

As you know, the Chinese has long history around the world. This item you can see was does very wonderful all by hand. It is a typical artware of that time. And it is very important for investigating the old Chinese culture. If you win it you will get good lucky. It is very wonderful. It is in good condition, no crack and no chip. Look at the pictures you can see the shape is very well. If you are Chinese antiques collector, please do not miss so better chance to get it. Enjoying your bidding!

then you more then deserve to get screwed.
In fact, you shouldn't breed.

ilia

[marianozz]

Originally Posted by dex

This news has nothing to do with Ibanez or guitars, it's about Software/Music/DVDs etc, and anyone who's been to places like Thailand, Russia, Phillipines will tell you that there's no fighting this type of piracy until the prices of legit media goes down.

And even if they shut down China's producers completely places like Russia, Indonesia, Phillipines etc will keep copying stuff and selling it at street markets.
And I'm not talking about a guy with a DVD-R sitting at home copying either - I'm talking about factories pressing fake everything you can think of (PS2 games, DVDs, CDs and so on) with the final product being identical (save for the packaging) to the original.

People who make $3/day working for Gap/Nike will not in a million years pay $10 for a CD so IP piracy is here to stay.

As far as the guitar thing goes, if you are stupid enough to think that this is an auction for a real jem or then you more then deserve to get screwed.
In fact, you shouldn't breed.

ilia

rofl, i couldnt agree more...

[Davey]

Originally Posted by dex

This news has nothing to do with Ibanez or guitars

Who's to say the materials they confiscated weren't materials for making guitars?

[PatrickSimsCustomShopUSA]

Originally Posted by TongueShredder

Geeze just wondering what happens to all the Chibanez if all these companies are busted.

Probably go up in value like all the other lawsuit copy guitars, lol.

[Flobanez]

Wow, it's nice to finally see something is being done about it.

[gu1tar]

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

Who's to say the materials they confiscated weren't materials for making guitars?

Because the RIAA et. al. go after the media pirates, big time. And the fact that they didn't mention guitars pretty much narrows down that that is not a key IP theft item. Ibanez is pretty much doing nothing about the [Ibanez] guitar pirates. They know a dolt that buys a "Jem" for like $3 with $200 shipping is not going pony up $2000 for a real one anyway.

And there is little you can do in third world countries since the international IP laws don't really apply to them. They have special exemptions, but they are intended for critical items that help their economy (like machinery and technology), not for movies/music or fake Jems. But if the third world country's government doesn't want to do anything about it, you are pretty much powerless to do anything about it unless you are a trade partner with them.

Dex pretty much summed up the rest of it.

[Davey]

Originally Posted by gu1tar

Because the RIAA et. al. go after the media pirates, big time. And the fact that they didn't mention guitars pretty much narrows down that that is not a key IP theft item. Ibanez is pretty much doing nothing about the [Ibanez] guitar pirates. They know a dolt that buys a "Jem" for like $3 with $200 shipping is not going pony up $2000 for a real one anyway.

And there is little you can do in third world countries since the international IP laws don't really apply to them. They have special exemptions, but they are intended for critical items that help their economy (like machinery and technology), not for movies/music or fake Jems. But if the third world country's government doesn't want to do anything about it, you are pretty much powerless to do anything about it unless you are a trade partner with them.

Dex pretty much summed up the rest of it.

Who's to say the RIAA are the ones involved?