Backed by mainland authorities, the US technology giant raids copycat factories across the border
United States networking equipment maker Cisco Systems has launched its most aggressive push against copyright infringement by instigating large-scale raids on pirate manufacturers in China.
With the help of the mainland's Public Security Bureau (PSB), Hong Kong-based private investigators acting for the Nasdaq-listed company raided seven factories in southern China suspected of manufacturing counterfeit products and seized more than US$2 million of pirated high-technology equipment, including chip-burners and high-end routers.
The private investigators, PSB detectives, Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC) officers and Technical Service Bureau officials conducted the synchronised raids on Wednesday, arresting six members of the pirating syndicate including the ringleader.
'We understand this is the first time Cisco has raided these counterfeiting factories on the ground in China,' said a director of the private investigation firm.
The raids follow a lawsuit Cisco filed in the US earlier this year against mainland rival Huawei Technologies alleging copyright infringements.
However, Cisco confirmed the suspected output of its counterfeited products was unrelated to Huawei. An investigator who was involved in the raids said the pirating syndicate appeared to be operating independently and purely as a money-making enterprise.