Just outside Beijing, recent raids by the police unearthed 5,000 cases of more fake wine, resulting in the closure of three wineries. Famous brands, including China’s own popular brand Great Wall, were among the wines forged.
This was followed by another raid on an empty house in southern China, which uncovered a hoard of 10,000 copycat bottles of brands from esteemed French producer Barons de Rothschild.
Meanwhile, Shanghai authorities attentively poured more than 3,000 bottles of fake wine down a drain in front of media.
These are just three of many high-profile reports in an intellectual property story that includes logos being reworked via Photoshop and well-known brand names given not-so-subtle twists, such as Australia’s Penfolds becomes Benfolds, and its Hill of Grace turned into Hill of Glory.
Other abuses include the use of design, with several sources citing the leaf motif of Kendall-Jackson being lifted.