By JAMES KUNDA –
POLICE in Lusaka have charged three Chinese directors of Guo Shun Limited in Makeni for copyright infringement, contrary to Section 28 (1) (d) of the copyright and performance rights amendment Act number 25 of 2010 Chapter 406 of the Laws of Zambia.
The trio, identified as Jiang Chunwu, 79, Liu Guifen, 68 and Liu Heling 39, has been released on police bond awaiting a court appearance.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the accused, illegally used Fairy bottling Zambia Limited’s registered Industrial design 20 litre water bottles where copyright existed.
Ms Katongo said in a statement yesterday that investigations in the Aquasavana Trademark infringement had continued.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has commended the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) for acting swiftly to curb the sale of counterfeit bottled water on the local market.
ZMA yesterday suspended the packaging, supply and sale of 18.9, 20 and 21.8 litres of bottled water on the market for 60 days.
ZMA executive director Himba Cheelo said the move followed recent reports that some companies were engaged in the production and packaging of counterfeit water.
Ms Cheelo said the suspension did not affect smaller denominations of bottled water, while manufacturers and retailers of the 18.9, 20 and 21.8 litre water were given a 48 hour grace period to withdraw the denominations of the commodity from the market.
ZACA executive director Samuel Simutunda said in an interview yesterday that the measure by ZMA was commendable as it would protect consumers from fraudulent trade practices and associated health risks.
“We are very happy with this development because it was unfair for consumers to be subjected to the mediocrity perpetrated by the people manufacturing the counterfeit water,” he said.
Mr Simutunda urged the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) to be more firm in addressing the spate of increased availability of counterfeit products on the local market.