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Super Bowl Bust: Feds Grab 307 NFL Websites; $4.8M

Posted by timothy on from the first-they-came-for-the-pirated-sports-gewgaws dept.

coondoggie writes "Speaking at a National Football League press conference ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said special agents this week seized a total of 307 websites and snatched up 42,692 items of phony Super Bowl-related memorabilia along with other counterfeit items for a total take of more than $4.8 million – up from $3.72 million last year."

58 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. China by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because we can only transfer money through "legitimate" channels to China. Waste of my tax dollars if ever there was one...

    --
    Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
    1. Re:China by nschubach · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I'm more interested in how much money was spend doing the seize. I could imagine that tax bill may exceed the ~$5 million depending on what equipment they bought and how many people they paid to track down/seize/value all the stuff.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    2. Re:China by joocemann · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'd almost bet a testicle that the resources used to acquire these goods was far more than $4.8M.

      Our taxes bought this trash on behalf of private industry---- why?

    3. Re:China by Soporific · · Score: 4, Funny

      What would you do with three testicles? Or did you lose a bet before? :)

      ~S

    4. Re:China by Firehed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not that I support this kind of action, but it at least proves that bills like SOPA are unnecessary. Rights-holders already have a legal means to deal with infringers. It may be inefficient, but I think most slashdotters would agree that's preferable to the alternative.

      --
      How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
    5. Re:China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      and I'd like to know when the copyright, trademark holders will be getting a bill for the government's services.

    6. Re:China by darth+dickinson · · Score: 3, Funny

      He's a Krogan.

    7. Re:China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      and I'd like to know when the copyright, trademark holders will be getting a bill for the government's services.

      So could this be, "I'd like to know when the rape, murder and theft victims will be getting a bill for the government's services" when the perpetrators are captured??

      Counterfeiting is a serious crime. There is no problem if someone makes "football" shirts or running shoes. There is a problem when you start to use someone else's brand to push your goods. That's illegal. It's akin of someone else using your name to get a mortgage on their house.

      This stuff is done FOR PROFIT. This is not some fans stitching together an NFL logo on their shirts.

    8. Re:China by Ihmhi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'd like to know why any of you think it's important for the government to make a profit when it comes to law enforcement.

      This retarded mindset is the reason we have speed traps everywhere.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
    9. Re:China by Skater · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On a related note, I wonder if Slashdot paid for the rights to use the term "Super Bowl" - the NFL defends that term pretty vigorously. This is why places that have, for example, televisions on sale this week have signs up that say, "Get your new TV for the big game!" Grocery stores refer to food for the "big game" party. And so on.

      The other day, I even heard a DJ on Sirius (satellite radio) saying he wasn't sure what he could say in regards to the game. The odd part is that Sirius will be carrying the game, so even within companies that ARE actually affiliated with the NFL, it's not clear.

    10. Re:China by couchslug · · Score: 2

      The businesses who OWN the government should reimburse taxpayers for its services to them.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  2. And nobody made any more money... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's unclear what, if any, effect these seizures have on the economy.

    1. Re:And nobody made any more money... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's unclear what, if any, effect these seizures have on the economy.

      Well I can tell you, there's a few ware houses and container ships which are probably going to have a little problem disposing of inventory which is still in the pipe.

      Not to mention an end to my pursuit of an Official Super Bowl Batmobile Car Kit.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. Mathematics by don+depresor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If they seize 43k items of merchandise, that means the average value for the caps, shirts and stuff on the photo is more than 100$ each... WTF???

    1. Re:Mathematics by future+assassin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      When the DEA busts a grow house each plant is said to produce 1lb. So why would they not want to inflate prices to make it look good.

      --
      by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    2. Re:Mathematics by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm 120 miles north of the Superbowl, and the FBI paid a visit to our mall and cleaned out one store of their NFL merchandise as being counterfeit. A lot of what they took was jerseys. Authentic game jerseys MSRP for around $200 so I could see an average being around $100.

    3. Re:Mathematics by uigrad_2000 · · Score: 4, Informative

      I looked quickly at the nfl.com shop, and their jerseys are $89-$99, but they had jackets and coats that range from $100 to $200, and framed lithographs for $150.

      I imagine that a counterfeiting organization might not just counterfeit logos, but possibly also signatures. Maybe there's a bunch of signed footballs in the group also.

      --
      Free unix account: freeshell.org
    4. Re:Mathematics by Glarimore · · Score: 2

      The feds always do this.

      I remember a news story not long ago where the DEA had seized 50 pounds of marijuana -- a street value of "about a million dollars". If you do the math, that means someone is selling grams of marijuana for forty five dollars. That's absurd -- that would mean that by weight, marijuana is worth about half as much as gold.

      But, hey hey! You need to let the populace know that their tax dollars are being well spent!

    5. Re:Mathematics by compro01 · · Score: 2

      The $99 is the "replica" ones. "Authentic" ones are $130-200+.

      "Replica" jerseys look mostly like real jerseys, but aren't quite. The fit is a bit different (they're not designed to fit over pads), as is the construction (slightly different material and stitching), and they drop some of the unneeded features, whereas "authentic" jerseys are what the players actually wear.

      --
      upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  4. Doesn't this prove... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...that the curren laws are enough to fight counterfeits?

    1. Re:Doesn't this prove... by EdIII · · Score: 2

      The official outlets and suppliers are kept safe not just by the current laws, but by preferential treatment by the FBI as another posted noted.

      When you have the influence in government apparently you can get jackbooted thugs to come in and raid businesses for you.

      Copyright law is not just unjust towards society and the consumer, it is not even enforced equally.

  5. great use of our tax money by peas_n_carrots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I mean, because counterfeit NFL gear is incredibly detrimental to society. Unlike drugs, murder, and other violence. And why spend money on education when money can be thrown towards law enforcement to satisfy the corporate overlords. Another way of looking at it... thousands of jobs have been destroyed so that the uber-rich NFL owners can snatch even more money from the commoners.

    1. Re:great use of our tax money by DigiShaman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To the Feds, it's not about priorities. It's about taking action to justify their department and funding necessary to maintain the status quo (and then some). It's precisely why the go after the low hanging fruit first and foremost.

      I suppose you could say their priorities are self-serving. Screw dealing with violent offenders and crime. That just too dangerous and politically incorrect.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:great use of our tax money by Obfuscant · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Another way of looking at it... thousands of jobs have been destroyed

      Thousands of criminal jobs...

      so that the uber-rich NFL owners can snatch even more money from the commoners.

      Those commoners are going to spend the money. Getting rid of the fake websites doesn't mean more people will spend more money, it only changes who they spend it with. Do you think it is better that they wind up with something that has no value should they ever try to resell it? You hate the rich so much that you'll throw your fellow citizen to the wolves who are making fake goods and selling them at real prices?

    3. Re:great use of our tax money by EdIII · · Score: 2

      the common consumer knows that their $50 tshirt is a quality product and not some cheap knockoff

      That's a weak argument. Quality can be the same. I think you would have made your point better with authenticity instead.

      Not everything the government does is to support the 1%

      Just 99% of what they do. While I can understand your point, are these actions being enforced equally for all intellectual property holders or just the ones who can afford to donate to campaigns?.

      DigiShaman said it pretty well:

      To the Feds, it's not about priorities. It's about taking action to justify their department and funding necessary to maintain the status quo (and then some). It's precisely why the go after the low hanging fruit first and foremost.

      That's my biggest issue. The 1% is getting preferential treatment because they generate headlines in newspapers, magazine, and online news sources. The small business man with a branded product is not going to get an FBI task force running through the local malls taking down knockoff products.

    4. Re:great use of our tax money by TWX · · Score: 5, Interesting

      No, it's probably more about low-hanging fruit.

      Remember, when someone buys drugs they're buying something they generally know is illegal, same with the seller. Both have a personal interest in keeping the transaction as low-key as possible.

      A purchaser of sports memorabilia is not looking to buy anything illegal. That means that the sellers of sports memorabilia in general are not low-key, and have to seem legitimate, which could open them up to investigation if the copyright and trademark holders do a good job of documenting the supply chain. Remember, many products have minimum costs per the resale agreement, and any price coming in under that price could automatically trigger a more thorough look. If one is counterfeiting memorabilia and is not aware of the minimum price, attempting to undercut legitimate resellers to drive sales could attract attention.

      I know this because years ago I worked for a small business that did all manner of technology and equipment work. Among the company's offerings were OEM software products, and remember, the definition of OEM back then was loose enough that one could buy a copy of Office or Windows as an OEM product if buying a qualifying hardware product, which could mean something as cheap as a Microsoft mouse. Well, the owner of the small business found a supplier of Windows and Office that let him sell for really, really cheap, and he advertised. A few days later, an investigator on behalf of Microsoft stopped by. He and the owner talked, and basically the rep was willing to exchange all of our copies of everything we had bought for resale in exchange for being given the information on the party that sold us the software. It probably worked that way because we had about fifteen products, not exactly a mecca of commercial piracy. He collected the counterfeits, gave us real ones, and left with contact information. Before he left he explained the supply chain that Microsoft used to distribute, and how prices really never fell below a certain threshold for current products.

      Back to this situation, if the real owners and producers of the licensed memorabilia have a supply chain with defined prices, it's easy to catch sellers who have unlicensed product if you just watch for their ads.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    5. Re:great use of our tax money by BoberFett · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not to mention that apparently the Super Bowl is enough of a national treasure to spend tens of millions of dollars in law enforcement, but not enough of a national treasure that it belongs to the citizens of the USA.

      So we all get to pay for protecting it but only a select few are allowed to profit off of it. More privatizing of profits while socializing the costs.

    6. Re:great use of our tax money by TWX · · Score: 2

      Interesting and all, but it begs the question: why isn't this price-fixing, if "prices really never fell below a certain threshold".

      Because one organization owns all of the intellectual property, and as the sole supplier they can dictate the price. Price-fixing is only illegal if there are multiple parties in collusion. A seller might even be able to sell for less than the price they paid for the merchandise, but they're not going to get a profit, and the supplier probably won't supply to them anymore.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    7. Re:great use of our tax money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What makes you assume the pirate shirt is inferior? The real jerseys and the fake ones both come from some place in China. As if one is hand made by skilled chinese jersey artisans and the other is loosely pieced together by unskilled slave laborers from bits of dryer lint or something.

      They're made on nearly identical machines in China. the difference between them is may be the tag on the back, and the quality of the silkscreen, That's probably it.

  6. More bad news? by Artea · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Reading Slashdot every day is starting to make me wonder if I'm allowed to do anything besides spend all my money and work (for less) without getting sued or arrested for copyright, patent, counterfeiting, or violating some all encompassing do-what-I-say law.

    1. Re:More bad news? by Fned · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sorry, doing nothing but spending all your money and working is not enough to stop you getting sued or arrested for violating some random-ass law.

    2. Re:More bad news? by poity · · Score: 2

      Slashdot = nerd drama
      Don't take it too seriously.

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    3. Re:More bad news? by guttentag · · Score: 2

      Reading Slashdot every day is starting to make me wonder if I'm allowed to do anything besides spend all my money and work (for less) without getting sued or arrested for copyright, patent, counterfeiting, or violating some all encompassing do-what-I-say law.

      This is why I only read Slashdot every other day. On my off days, I peruse the MPAA and RIAA news pages because I like reading about how everyone and their mother is stealing billions of dollars from them every day. It's not true, but it makes me feel like the 99% is winning, and it helps balance out all the pessimistic negative news you see here. And sometimes it's just plain funny:

      There is a near universal consensus that cracking down on foreign rogue websites is an important priority for the U.S. government. The Senate had an opportunity to have a national conversation about an important and urgent issue: protecting American workers and consumers from foreign criminals. It is a shame that the Senate will not have that debate next week.

      This issue is too important, too vital to our economy, to let misleading demagoguery have a veto over meaningful reforms. Everyone, every intermediary in the Internet ecosystem, has a role to play and a responsibility to help. We have been told repeatedly that the tech community agrees that something needs to be done. We take them at their word, and continue to hope that we can sit down with responsible leaders from that community to devise a solution that will address counterfeiting and theft and, yes, bring the rule of law to the Internet.

      They didn't even put a date on their news release. Know why? Because it's a timeless classic. They're going to use this for 10 years, and then they'll start charging you money for the next 120 years to go back and read it for the entertainment value. You gotta love these guys! If they pulled their PR people out of their cubicles and put them on stage doing stand-up, I might just pay to watch!

  7. ACTA? by t4ng* · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While everyone was fretting over SOPA/PIPA, Obama secretly signed the ACTA treaty back in October, 2011. Both Obama And Bush declared during their respective presidencies that the text of ACTA was classified due to national security. Both denied FOI petitions. So how does a citizen have any hope of not breaking the law when the laws themselves are kept secret from citizens?

    1. Re:ACTA? by Mashiki · · Score: 2

      "Excessive law is no law" - Cicero

      There's more to the quote, generally talking about the criminalizing of all behaviors and making law useless. But the answer in itself is in the full quote. Funny how this was already discussed 2000 years ago.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    2. Re:ACTA? by aztec+rain+god · · Score: 2

      I would add to dear Cicero that a secret law is no law. The whole idea behind laws, if we're going back to Babylonian times, was that human beings were savages, and needed a code that the authorities could point to. "See, here's the list of shit you can't do." If a law is secret, how the hell are you supposed to comply?

      --
      Sig cannot be found.
    3. Re:ACTA? by strength_of_10_men · · Score: 2

      ...when the laws themselves are kept secret from citizens

      Here you go

      Consider yourself warned, citizen.

      Note that I believe the denial of the draft text due to "national security" was as bullshit as anything I've ever heard of, but now that it's signed, you can read it in all it's infamy

      I voted for O but this would be the very high on the long list of things I would call him to the floor for if I ever got to speak to him.

  8. Next time you get burgalized... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Remember.. it is just your property that has been taken. It wasnt murder, drugs or anything violent.

    1. Re:Next time you get burgalized... by HeckRuler · · Score: 2

      You mean... The next time someone sees pictures of my awesome couch and builds one similar to it claiming that that it has all the awesomeness of my original couch.

      Sorry, but lost sales != theft.

    2. Re:Next time you get burgalized... by EdIII · · Score: 2

      it has all the awesomeness of my original couch

      That's not possible. What about the hidden Cheetos and that expensive remote under the cushions?

    3. Re:Next time you get burgalized... by Firehed · · Score: 2

      This kind of counterfeiting is a lot closer to theft than piracy. I know the guy selling $5 Oakley's out of a shoebox on the street corner isn't selling authentic goods (although I have no doubt that some people really are that ignorant), but I may have no idea that my money isn't making it back to the claimed manufacturer in the case of somewhat cheaper-than-usual NFL jerseys. Chances are I was just trying to get the best deal but engage in a legitimate transaction. Counterfeiting isn't a lost sale so much as a hijacked one. Contrast that to pirating digital goods, where no money is changing hands.

      As noted in an earlier comment, I don't think this is a good of efficient use of my taxes. But if the money is going to be spent somewhere, I'd rather it go after counterfeiters (money going to the wrong party) than pirates (no transaction; could lead to one in the future). Given my choice, it would go after dangerous crime, or nowhere at all in the form of a lower tax rate.

      --
      How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
  9. in other news by nimbius · · Score: 5, Funny

    nagios detected the 'seized' logo on 307 of my sites, and kicked off the rsync job for 307 new sites. lets hope this doesnt happen again, i only have 14,205 registered domains left from which to sell my yet-to-be-created JIT manufactured merchandise from china.

    Also, does anyone know if they still put the holographic sticker on the "authentic" merchandise? Ive got a trading partner from alibaba.com that can crank them out in rolls of 5000, but he needs some notice.

    heres hoping the superbowl is a huge success this year! I know the money really helped me last year when i had to pay off my foreclosure. this year my daughter needs braces, and my wifes blood pressure medication isnt covered by costco insurance.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
  10. One thing I always wondered ... by MacTO · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What counts as counterfeit goods? They always offer up fairly big numbers to justify these raids, but they rarely offer up enough details for the public to judge the real value of what they're doing.

    I'm bringing this up because I saw a news story that showed some counterfeit goods a few years ago. While some of them were pretty convincing, a lot of the stuff involved questionable cases of trademark infringement. One such example were batteries that used the colour scheme from a popular brand of batteries, yet everything else was distinguishable from the "genuine" goods (e.g. it went under a completely different product name). Claiming that they were counterfeit would be like claiming that Monopoly money was counterfeit.

  11. At what cost? by kwiqsilver · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Did they bother to calculate how much it cost the federal government to do all of this?
    The feds spent $X to seize $Y of counterfeit goods that, if they entered the market, might have reduced NFL revenues by $Z.
    Y >> Z is definitely true (the guy willing to pay $10 for the counterfeit, might not pay $50 for the authentic).
    I seriously doubt X < Z.

  12. The Obama Administration's Priorities by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Taking down domains without a trial, secretly negotiating international IP treaties (ACTA), threatening American ISPs into adopting a "six strikes" policy...

    Judging by its actions, IP enforcement is clearly the Obama Administration's top priority. Is it corruption, or is it just plain disregard for justice and the due process of law?

    --
    "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
  13. Re:If... by jdastrup · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Are you assuming that if we didn't spend money on a ballgame that we would instead take that money and send it to the IRS? Really?

    I think throwing money at a sports game and the genetic (or chemically enhanced) freak of natures (players) is a complete waste of money, but it's entertainment dollars, and I'm sure I spend that on other stuff that sports fans probably think is a waste of time in their opinion. Either way, it doesn't reduce the debt, doesn't feed the hungry, doesn't clothe the poor.

  14. Re:Oh, hey by Nidi62 · · Score: 2

    Shouldn't they be, I dunno, doing Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

    Well, if this merchandise was manufactured overseas (which of course even means Mexico), then seizing it is part of their job. I doubt they would have paid any customs tax. Even if this didn't fall under the scope of "customs", ICE does quite a number of things that you wouldn't think of just by looking at their name. They seize and return stolen artwork to Europe all the time.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  15. Priorities by omems · · Score: 2

    I recommend going to the ICE Facebook page (WTF?) and let them know how much we appreciate their hard work protecting us from fake jerseys and other insidious chotchkies.

    You know, add yourself to the list of people to monitor. Fuckfaces all around.
    Too bad we have to use our real names...

  16. ICE Correction by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 5, Informative
    From TFA, ICE stated:

    "Visitors to these websites will then find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities and educates them that willful copyright infringement is a federal crime."

    Correction: Willful copyright infringement in the form of selling counterfeit merchandise is a Federal crime. If you are infringing copyright solely for personal use, the vast majority of the time there is no "crime" at all. It is a civil infraction.

    1. Re:ICE Correction by houghi · · Score: 2

      If you are infringing copyright solely for personal use, the vast majority of the time there is no "crime" at all. It is a civil infraction.

      You must be new here.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  17. 0.1% by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    NFL revenue is about 4 billion. Clearly this is not a threat to their business.

    The FBI needs to have it's budget cut if this is the best thing they can do. I mean 4 million is one SUV full of cocaine.

  18. SOPA/PIPA by ALeavitt · · Score: 2

    It's a good thing SOPA and PIPA passed, or else the government would be powerless to stop this kind of criminal activity.

    --
    This sig has been stolen. Return it to its original user for a reward.
  19. Yeah yea, the feds being bullies by HeckRuler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But what's more shocking is that this is done in the name of football.
    It's just a game. No more dignified then tiddlywinks, starcraft, or mumbley-peg. The NFL got the FEDS to bust up counterfeiters? For $4.8 million in loot? Really?

    Come on guys, get a grip. I'd like to say that nobody cares how "your team" did, but sadly I can't. All I can say is nobody should really care. It's an activity that does not warrant caring.

    1. Re:Yeah yea, the feds being bullies by ScentCone · · Score: 2

      But what's more shocking is that this is done in the name of football

      No, it's being done in the names of everyone in the country who actually run legitimate manufacturing and importing operations, and who don't rip other people off. This particular annual event stimulates a predictable wave of scams, thefts, counterfeit goods ... and the people who are involved plan for it. The rest of the year, they're doing other crap along the same lines. Busting them is a good thing.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    2. Re:Yeah yea, the feds being bullies by 0123456 · · Score: 2

      Ask the Romans what they thought of violent games in huge arena's.

      When they start releasing lions and rhinos on the pitch during NFL games, I might actually start watching them.

  20. And this is why by sdguero · · Score: 2

    I will never buy NFL licensed anything.

  21. Welfare by drooling-dog · · Score: 4, Funny

    Waste of my tax dollars if ever there was one...

    My imaginary conservative friend, who always displays perfect consistency in all of his opinions, is outraged that his tax dollars are being spent to defend private trademarks and IP. Trademarks belonging, moreover, to corporations that pay very little in taxes themselves. "What has happened to individual responsibility in this country?" he might be heard to exclaim. "Surely these firms could defend their IP monopolies themselves, without public assistance. I mean, this is the NFL! You mean to tell me they can't find a few hired thugs to show these pirates how not to do business?"

  22. Supply Chain by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 2

    There's a fair chance of it being the very same items made in the very same factories, just after hours and off the books.

    If you've worked the supply chain you'd know that it's the norm everywhere you look

    Vendor A put an order of 2 million jerseys, and somehow somewhere that order self-multiplied throughout the length of the supply chain

    And in this worldwide distributed supply chain that we are having right now, it's uncommon that an order placed in HongKong will be sub-contracted to factories in China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, India, Vietnam ...

    At the end, 2.5 to 4 million jerseys would be made and Vendor A will get the 2 million jerseys he ordered.

    As for the remainder ? Most of them would be stored in some warehouse somewhere, and part of those merchandises will find their way to the grey market

    These "extra merchandises" are of top quality - in fact, they are of the same quality as the jerseys the Vendor A is selling in its authorized franchises.

    From watches to jerseys to sport shoes to ... just look around your house/office, any of them could be from the 'extra merchandises" category

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !