logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
    • Marketplace
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
      • Marketplace
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
        • Marketplace
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Archives Recent raids prove making fake Zippo lighters getting harder
    Recent raids prove making fake Zippo lighters getting harder
    Archives
    July 18, 2006

    Recent raids prove making fake Zippo lighters getting harder

    By TAMMARRAH MILES

    It’s getting harder for the makers of counterfeit Zippos to fake
    people out.

    Several recent raids in foreign countries have aided in the
    recovery of thousands of counterfeit Zippo lighters.

    Zippo Manufacturing Co. legal counsel Jeff Duke said the most
    recent raids occurred in the last several weeks, and that several
    hundreds of counterfeit Zippo lighters were recovered from small
    retailers in Vietnam and Thailand.

    The fake Zippo lighters are primarily manufactured in China,
    Duke said, and then distributed through retailers elsewhere.
    Because the most convincing counterfeit Zippo lighters are made
    mostly in China, officials find a higher number of them
    concentrated in the nearby countries in Southeast Asia, he
    said.

    Duke said counterfeit lighters range from “very cheap, obvious
    fakes” to “higher-quality replicas.” It’s those higher-quality faux
    Zippo lighters that have Zippo executives hot under the collar
    since they cut into profits and compromise collectors.

    He said 18,000 counterfeit lighters were seized at a
    manufacturing facility in China recently. Raids at the retail level
    – like those in Vietnam and Thailand – typically yield several
    hundred lighters. Even the smaller raids, however, discourage the
    retailers from dealing in counterfeit products, he added.

    In China, the focus is on manufacturers and wholesalers. Zippo’s
    fight against counterfeiting has been backed by several
    politicians, including U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., U.S. Sen.
    Arlen Specter, R-Pa., U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and State
    Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, to name a few.

    Oftentimes, Duke said, the problem with putting a stop to the
    production of fake Zippo lighters is not with the U.S. government,
    but with the governments in other countries. Backing from local
    politicians, however, aids Zippo executives with communications in
    their efforts.

    He went on to say that more of the higher-end fakes have popped
    up in the last year than ever before. As a result, Zippo has
    stepped up efforts recently to seek out and censure the production
    of counterfeit lighters, with “significant success.” Zippo has
    recently increased spending to combat the counterfeiting of its
    windproof lighter, he said.

    Zippo doesn’t just go after lighters made to look like a Zippo,
    complete with a fake Zippo logo, Duke said, but also lighters made
    that infringe on the trademark design and shape of a Zippo
    lighter.

    A raid occurred in Portugal some time last week, however. In
    Portugal, 22,000 shape-infringing lighters not using the Zippo
    name, but which were “direct copies” of the lighter shape, were
    brought to Zippo’s attention by customs officials in Portugal.

    Counterfeit lighters are not exclusively an international
    project, however. Counterfeit lighters have been seized as close to
    home as Atlanta, Ga., he said.

    “We’re spending an enormous amount of resources and time
    battling this,” Duke said.

    Peterson and Specter both visited Zippo’s headquarters on
    Barbour Street in August of 2004 to assist with the fight against
    counterfeiting in China. U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant
    Secretary William Lash initiated Peterson’s meeting with Zippo
    executives that summer after purchasing counterfeit Zippo lighters
    himself on a trip to Moscow.

    Lash reported at that time that he contacted Zippo officials to
    ask if counterfeiting was a big problem, and when he found out it
    was, he hit the books. When he confronted the Russians, he said,
    they blamed the problem on the Chinese.

    At that time, Lash explained that the production of 20,000
    counterfeit lighters could cost one Bradford resident employed at
    the Zippo plant their job.

    Zippo Presidents and Chief Executive Officer Greg Booth said in
    2004 that Zippo’s business was reduced by one third between 1995
    and 2001, due largely to counterfeiting.

    The Associated Press reported in October of 2004 that the Bush
    administration had announced a crackdown on international companies
    making counterfeit American products like Zippo lighters.

    In February of this year, the Stop Counterfeiting in
    Manufactured Goods Act was passed by the U.S. Senate and sent on to
    President George W. Bush for his approval. Bush signed the measure
    in March, making the bill a law.

    Tags:

    archives

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Latest news for you
    MessiAah University invokes Christian ethos, dignity of ‘the person’ in support of humane immigration bill
    Nation & World
    MessiAah University invokes Christian ethos, dignity of ‘the person’ in support of humane immigration bill
    By IVEY DeJESUS pennlive.com 
    July 16, 2025
    (TNS) — Messiah University is invoking its Christian ethos and the dignity of every human to explain its support for a bipartisan immigration bill tha...
    Read More...
    Trump joins McCormick at CMU to tout $90B energy and AI investment wave
    Business, Nation & World, PA State News
    Trump joins McCormick at CMU to tout $90B energy and AI investment wave
    By TOM FONTAINE, JACK TROY and MEGAN SWIFT  The Tribune-Review, Greensburg 
    July 16, 2025
    PITTSBURG (TNS) — As the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit drew to a close Tuesday at Carnegie Mellon University, event organizer U.S. Sen. Da...
    Read More...
    Local oil purchasers decrease prices
    Business, Local News
    Local oil purchasers decrease prices
    July 16, 2025
    Two local oil purchasers have decreased the price they will pay for Penn grade crude oil. Effective Monday, American Refining Group and Ergon Oil Purc...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    U.S. Supreme Court clears path for education overhaul
    Local News, Nation & World, PA State News
    U.S. Supreme Court clears path for education overhaul
    By CHRISTINA LENGYEL The Center Square 
    July 16, 2025
    HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania state legislators are reacting to Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that clears the way for the Trump administration to c...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Garrity announces new deputy treasurer for communications
    PA State News
    Garrity announces new deputy treasurer for communications
    July 16, 2025
    HARRISBURG — Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced an addition to her administration, naming Steve Chizmar deputy treasurer for communications. “Steve’s e...
    Read More...
    What Pa. can learn from La. about energy policy
    Comment & Opinion, Opinion
    What Pa. can learn from La. about energy policy
    By ELIZABETH STELLE RealClearPennsylvania 
    July 16, 2025
    Louisiana, the third-largest producer of natural gas nationally, has capitalized on President Donald Trump’s energy policies, which represent an about...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA