Fake circuit breakers destroyed

A large quantity of circuit breakers, which were in breach of intellectual property rights, was destroyed today by the Customs Department, following a court order.

The 30 boxes of circuit breakers, weighing 750 kg, which bore the brand name MiKa, were imported by Master Electric Co. Ltd of Qormi and impounded by Customs on August 28, 2002.

The order for the circuit breakers to be destroyed was given in a judgment in the Court of Appeal, presided over by Chief Justice Dr Vincent De Gaetano, assisted by Judge Albert J. Magri and Judge Tonio Mallia on February 1.

The Court of Appeal confirmed a judgment of the First Hall of the Civil Court, presided by Mr Justice Joseph Azzopardi, of June 13, 2005. In the judgment the court decreed that the products that bore the trade mark MiKa were such as to create confusion for consumers and ordered that the circuit breakers be destroyed within a month of the judgment.

Expenses were to be borne by Master Electric Co. Ltd. MK Electric Limited of the UK were represented by Dr Michael Tanti Dougall.

Commenting on the event, Joe Camilleri, managing director of ITC Ltd of Blata l-Bajda, importers of MK electrical products, said: “Justice has finally been done. My company has suffered grievous damages over the years from these fake products and this is not the only case that is awaiting judgment.

“The MiKa brand has caused confusion on the market among those who thought they were getting MK’s reliable and safe products.”