The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs in Butterworth seized counterfeit branded helmets valued at RM70,240. The raid took place at a location in Bukit Mertajam, where a total of 268 fake “Arai” helmets were confiscated on Tuesday (March 19).
The operation was conducted in collaboration with representatives of the respective copyright holders, leading to the discovery of the counterfeit helmets.
Director of the Penang branch, S Jegan, mentioned that an examination of the motorcycle helmets revealed that they were labeled as ‘TSR’ but featured Arai’s artistic trademarks for various models like Nakano Shukiken Silver, Black Samurai, and Oriental Blue.
“This act was identified as a violation of the Copyright Act 1987. As a result, the items were seized for further action,” he stated.
Jegan cautioned individuals and entities to always adhere to copyright laws to avoid consequences. “Any individual found guilty of this offense may face penalties under the Copyright Act 1987. They could be fined between RM2,000 and RM20,000 for each infringing copy, or face imprisonment up to five years or both,” he warned.
For subsequent offenses, the penalties could range from RM4,000 to RM40,000 per infringing copy, or up to ten years of imprisonment or both, according to Jegan.
He urged the public to stay vigilant and report any unauthorized copy incidents involving copyright infringement to the authorities.
Arai Helmets, founded by motorcycle enthusiast Hirotake Arai, traces its origins back to the early 1950s, when he created a helmet for personal use. This helmet was Japan’s first motorcycle helmet, featuring a single-piece inner shell composed of various densities for enhanced structural integrity.
