Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

LA Customs officials seize $7 million in counterfeit DVDs

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized 252,968 DVDs with counterfeit trademarks coming into the Los Angeles/Long Beach port on Jan. 7. The Department of Homeland Security made the announcement this morning. The suggested retail price of the DVDs was estimated to be over $7.1 million and the domestic value was $204,904.

Officials seized the shipment after it arrived on a sea container from South Korea. It included movie and music DVDs being sent to an L.A. County importer. Customs officials inspected the shipment and discovered counterfeit "DVD," "Dolby," and "DTS" trademark designs on the packaging and seized the shipment.

In fiscal year 2009, Customs officials seized over $260.6 million worth of counterfeit items nationwide. Media items such as DVDs were in the top 10 commodities seized, with a total domestic value of $11 million, accounting for 4 percent of the value of all goods seized.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right