The fight against counterfeit goods continues online, with Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) taking a strong stance. Recently, the CCU joined forces with Crye Precision, a leading manufacturer of military and law enforcement apparel and equipment, to target counterfeiters selling fake Crye Precision products on Amazon. Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world, with its Marketplace used by independent businesses to promote and sell their products.

In airsoft, many airsoft players, admiring the tactical clothing and gear from Crye Precision but hindered by its prices, resort to getting unauthorized copies of the product mainly from East Asia. Zshot is an authorized seller of affordable Crye Precision replicas for airsoft use that we know of, but it seems that the Columbus, Ohio-based company is not trading anymore.

Crye Precision holds trademarks and copyrights for its popular MultiCam camouflage patterns, used by various brands across the globe. The joint lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Washington (Crye Precision: 2:24-cv-00394), aims to stop the sale of these counterfeit products on Amazon's platform.

“Amazon is a distinguished ally in our ongoing global battle against counterfeiters. While most companies turn a blind eye to bad actors, Amazon’s pledge to eradicate counterfeit products is a leading example of how to support brands and protect intellectual property,” said Jonathan Antone, general counsel, and chief of staff for Crye Precision. “With Amazon’s CCU leading the efforts, we can prioritize our focus on designing and manufacturing life-saving apparel and gear for military and law enforcement personnel.”

Previous joint lawsuits filed by the CCU have seen success. In one instance, a family-owned card game company, Dutch Blitz, partnered with the CCU to sue counterfeiters. The lawsuit resulted in a default judgment in favor of Amazon and Dutch Blitz, with the card game maker receiving nearly $200,000 in damages.

The CCU recognizes the significant harm counterfeiting can inflict on smaller businesses. In 2023 alone, the unit pursued over a dozen civil and criminal cases to protect the intellectual property of small businesses.

Amazon's commitment to eliminating counterfeits extends beyond individual cases. Their latest Brand Protection Report outlines four key strategies. One such strategy involves working with brands, as evidenced by the Crye Precision lawsuit.

Another successful collaboration involved the CCU and the BMW Group. A joint lawsuit filed in Spain against counterfeiters selling fake BMW parts resulted in a landmark ruling by the European Union Trademark Court. The court sided with Amazon and BMW, sending a strong message to counterfeiters operating in Europe.

Photos: Crye Precision Facebook Page