Customs and Border Protection officials have seized more than 3,000 counterfeit Gibson electric guitars at the Port of Long Beach, California. If the instruments were real, they would have a sales value of about 18 million dollars (about 17.1 million euros).
It is said that the guitars were shipped from Asia. U.S. Customs has not released further details, such as where the instruments were manufactured. The investigation by Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing, the AP reported.
The Gibson company, which has the largest market share in premium electric guitars, confirmed that the intercepted instruments were counterfeits. “These guitars can be sold to unsuspecting consumers who purchase them from online sellers, street markets, unauthorized” Look legitimate when purchasing. of retailers and private transactions,” said Cheryl M. Davies, director of Los Angeles Customs and Border Protection Field.
Gibson was founded in 1894 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company’s instruments are handmade in Nashville and Bozeman, Montana. Gibson guitars were such an integral part of music history that Chuck Berry was laid to rest with his instrument, and blues musician BB King affectionately named his guitar “Lucille.”
Intellectual property infringement is a criminal offense punishable by a $250,000 fine and ten years in prison.
Source: Krone
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