Chinese law firms representing foreign trademarks are stepping up their efforts to protect their clients' intellectual property in China.

After last week's confiscation of fake badges with Hard Rock's trademark, Apple's trademark representative in China raided the Silk Street Market, a popular shopping center among tourists, Thursday for mp3 players with fake Apple logos.

A couple surnamed Zhang was arrested in Chongwen district for supplying fake iPods to Silk Street vendors. Apple's trademark representative, a law firm registered in Guangzhou, followed the couple for six months and caught their daily activities on tape before reporting the situation to the authorities. More than 200 fake iPhones and 400 fake iPods were confiscated.

Last week, IntellecPro, a Beijing intellectual property law firm representing the Hard Rock trademark, reported a fake Hard Rock badge vendor to the Xicheng Industrial and Commercial Bureau. More than 100 badges were confiscated and the vendor is now facing a fine.

"That's the hard part," said Zhao Tianying, lawyer with IntellecPro representing Hard Rock, "A fine isn't going to stop them. They just see it as the cost of doing this 'business.'"
                                                                                                    Source: Global Times