Dorset-based fancy dress company The Hen Party Shop has been ordered to pay £65,000 for selling counterfeit costumes.
The fine was issued after owner Michelea Mariner, pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994; of selling, advertising and possessing costumes bearing illegal copies of registered trade marks.
She was given a three-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation order for £65,000 and £1,500 towards prosecution costs.
The online business is the latest to fall foul of the law following a trading standards alert from costume company Rubie’s. When officers investigated and entered the property , they seized nearly 200 counterfeit costumes and other items.
Most of the products being sold were illegal copies of costumes for which Rubie’s holds the official licence, such as Superwoman, Snow White, Supergirl, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and Batman.
“The sale of counterfeit goods can have a seriously detrimental effect on legitimate businesses selling genuine goods, as well as damaging the business of trademark owners,” said Ivan Hancock, of Trading Standards at Dorset Council. “We will continue to take enforcement action in appropriate cases and undertake the financial investigations necessary to recover proceeds of crime.”
Mike O’Connell, Rubie’s global head of anti-piracy, commented: “I’d like to thank Dorset Trading Standards for their considerable effort in bringing this case before the courts. Counterfeiting continues to cost our industry millions each year. The Proceeds of Crime order, demonstrates that crime doesn’t pay.”
