Shure, in collaboration with two international audio equipment manufacturers, assisted in dismantling a large-scale counterfeiting operation in China that produced and exported fake microphones, headphones and amplifiers to Southeast Asia.

Crackdown on Counterfeit Operations

In May 2023, Shure received information about a network of nine entities in China exporting counterfeit audio products through more than 80 online stores. The products were sold to customers in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Shure worked with intellectual property services firm Rouse and its strategic partner, Lusheng, to coordinate a legal response alongside two other manufacturers. Law enforcement in Guangdong province, led by the Public Security Bureau, conducted simultaneous raids in August 2023, seizing counterfeit products and launching an investigation into the trading company at the center of the operation.

Seized Goods and Legal Consequences

Investigators uncovered financial records linking the network to more than $1.7 million in counterfeit sales, including nearly $900,000 in fake Shure products.

By December 2024, seven suspects had been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to four and a half years. Courts also imposed fines totaling $1.1 million. In addition, Shure and another participating brand reached settlement agreements with the defendants for financial compensation.

“We are grateful to China’s Public Security Bureau, prosecutors, and courts for their determination in fighting counterfeiting crimes,” said Eric McAlpine, Shure’s vice president and chief legal officer. “Counterfeit products harm consumers, authorized retailers, and the industry as a whole. We will continue working to protect our brand and ensure that customers receive authentic Shure products.”

Shure, which has been in business for 100 years, continues to prioritize intellectual property protection and combat counterfeit operations worldwide.