A trader took a clock from an exhibition booth because he thought it infringed his patented design, Eastern Court heard yesterday.
Cesare Difalco, 52, claimed a $27 clock displayed at a booth hosted by Hong Kong Precision Electronics looked the same as one designed by him.
Mr Difalco, owner of the Italian-based company Project International, took the crystal-like quartz clock on April 16 but left his name card at the booth.
Lam Kwing-cheong, 40, a salesman at the booth, told police about the matter.
Mr Difalco was arrested inside the Convention and Exhibition Centre, where a four-day gift and houseware fair was being held.
He told police that Mr Lam's company had infringed his patent and he wanted to keep the clock as an exhibit for any future lawsuit.
