Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group's Efforts Leads to Elimination of 60 Counterfeit Websites

PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwired - Nov 25, 2013) -  The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group today announced that a preliminary injunction has been issued by the Southern District Court of Florida to shut down 60 websites where counterfeit clubs and products were reportedly being sold. This marks another important victory in the Group's efforts to fight counterfeiting and protect consumers. When a final judgment is made, visitors going to many of the websites will be redirected to keepgolfreal.com where they can find information about how to avoid being tricked by counterfeiters. 

The counterfeit products being sold by the 60 websites included golf clubs, balls, head covers and bags. In addition to shutting down the websites, the restraining order also froze all PayPal accounts associated with the website and transferred existing funds to a holding account until the legal process is complete. This is not the first time the Group has employed this tactic to fight the production and sale of counterfeit golf clubs. In 2012, the group successfully shut down more than 250 websites selling fake golf products.

The Group is dedicated to educating consumers about how to spot and avoid fake golf products and operates its own website, www.keepgolfreal.com. As a result of the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group's petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of manufacturing, warehouse, assembly and retail facilities have been executed by Chinese law enforcement and civil enforcement authorities since 2004.

About the Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group

The Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group consists of five of the most well-known golf companies in the world -- Acushnet Company whose brands are Titleist, FootJoy and Scotty Cameron; Callaway-Odyssey; Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Never Compromise; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth. Since 2004, the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group has worked with international law enforcement and government agencies to conduct raids and investigations of counterfeit operations, as well as raise public awareness of the issue. In 2012, the Group's efforts with the help of Chinese law enforcement led to the seizure of more than 500,000 counterfeit golf products highlighted by a clustering campaign initiative resulting in the arrest of more than 30 suspects from raids of 14 different locations.