Macau Customs Service officers on Wednesday busted four claw machine shops suspected of offering gamers stuffed toys infringing on various brands’ intellectual property rights (IP), involving 303 bogus items worth 110,000 patacas in total, according to the prices set by the retailers, a customs spokesperson said during a press conference in Pac On, Taipa yesterday.
According to the spokesperson, the four shops are located in Fai Chi Kei district and in the Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga (雅廉訪大馬路) and Avenida do Almirante Lacerda (提督馬路) areas respectively.
One male shop owner, one male and two female claw machine owners, were arrested on Wednesday, according to the spokesperson, adding that the four suspects aged between 31 to 41 are local residents.
The spokesperson said that the four shops belong to the same owner, and opened one after another from 2021 to 2024.
According to the spokesperson, the Macau Customs Service received a tip-off at the end of last year and discovered that the four claw machine shops were suspected of buying copyright-infringed products outside Macau for customers trying to win a prize from the claw machines.
The spokesperson did not reveal the affected brands or the type of toys.
The spokesperson noted that the bogus items were purchased for 7.80 yuan to 30 yuan and customers were charged 3 patacas per game.
The spokesperson said that the suspects have been transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP). According to the Industrial Property Code Decree-Law No 97/99/M, the suspects face a hefty fine and up to six months in jail.
The bogus brand stuffed toys seized from four claw machine shops on Wednesday are displayed at the Macau Customs Service (SA) headquarters in Pac On, Taipa. – Photo courtesy of TDM
