Sennheiser Files 12 Lawsuits in Los Angeles Against Counterfeiters

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 20, 2011, Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG and Sennheiser Electronic Corp. filed its first wave of federal lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuits target a number of Internet based pirates and counterfeiters located throughout the United States who are engaged in the sale of counterfeit Sennheiser™ branded merchandise, including the popular models CX200, CX300 II, CX380 II, CX500 and PMX80 lines of headphones.

The lawsuits have been filed against a variety of individuals and business entities that are conducting business throughout the United States in locations including New York, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida. The complaints are based upon Federal Trademark Infringement Laws, including but not limited to violations of 15 U.S.C. section 1114, 15 U.S.C. section 1125, Lanham Act, and the California Business and Professions Code. The filed complaints demand substantial damages in the form of declaratory relief and injunctive relief, along with all attorney's fees and costs against counterfeiters. Sennheiser has identified more than 100 other domestic pirates -- along with numerous domestic websites -- which are targeted for further enforcement operations.

Sennheiser is a world leading manufacturer of high performance and best-selling headphones and microphones, considered indispensable among music lovers, audiophiles, recording studios, sound professionals, custom-installers and home theatre enthusiasts. Sennheiser products feature superb sound reproduction quality, making them first choice for many high-profile recording artists.

Sennheiser began this counterfeit enforcement campaign after recognizing an increase of warranty returns and complaints about the quality and workmanship on some Sennheiser branded products.  Further investigation determined that the complaints originated from consumers who purchased their Sennheiser™ products online; often from a website based in China, or from a domestic eBay seller who acquired the counterfeit merchandise from a Chinese wholesaler of counterfeit products.  

The Sennheiser brand has achieved enormous popularity and with that recognition has fallen victim to the ever-expanding counterfeit industry. The manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit Sennheiser™-branded products abroad has resulted in the widespread domestic sale of pirated merchandise, all of which is composed of inferior materials and substandard workmanship. Counterfeit merchandise is not only prone to malfunction, but can also result in injury to the consumer and damage to the environment due to deficient quality control and attention to detail during the production process.

"Sennheiser will vigorously defend the Sennheiser brand name, representing premium quality and performance, by taking action against counterfeiters and ensuring our customers know how to avoid purchasing counterfeit products," said John Falcone, President/CEO of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. "Customers are urged to purchase only from authorized Sennheiser dealers."

A complete list of authorized US Sennheiser dealers is available at http://www.sennheiserusa.com/serviceandsupport_dealer-locator_authorized-retailers. Consumers who have questions about counterfeit products, or suspect they may have purchased a counterfeit product, should visit http://www.sennheiserusa.com/serviceandsupport_counterfeitalert.

About Sennheiser

Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Conn. Sennheiser's pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visiting our website at http://www.sennheiserusa.com.

SOURCE Sennheiser