LG joins hands with Chinese authorities to root out counterfeits

Here are photos of two headsets. Both have LG logos, which seemingly appear to be both LG Electronics` products. But one is original and the other is fake from China. Which one is the authentic one?

I voted for the black one. It had a bigger LG logo and also a bigger brand name of TONE+ . But I was wrong. In fact, the fake looked more like original. I was fooled.

LG Electronics is agonized over fake headsets that are dominating in the Chinese and the U.S. markets. The product in question is TONE+, a popular Bluetooth headset model. Counterfeit products are prevailing in the global market, causing consumer confusion. People buying things online are especially being fooled due to the difficulty to distinguish original from fake.

Consequently, LG Electronics have recently joined hands with China`s public authorities to eradicate fake products. Chinese authorities clamped down on a Chinese firm that distributed fake LG headsets in an electronics goods store in Shenzhen, and arrested the firm`s CEO. Crackdown is ongoing.

The combat against fake products is nothing new. Korea`s major electronics makers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have long been in war against counterfeits. Fake LG products from China have been in presence for 12 years since 2002. The types have also become diversified ranging from air conditioners and mobile phones to microwave ovens and headsets.

While past fake products from China were easily spotted, they have evolved to look almost the same. The problem is that the image of Korean-made products is being degraded because people will believe it as real and become disappointed to find out that finishing touches are a mess and efficiency is low.

"Pirating brand, technology and design infringes on intellectual property. We will root out fake products and receive compensation by cooperating with the judicial authorities," LG Electronics said. Good luck to Korean companies in their eradication efforts.