German Customs raid IFA exhibitors

By Robert Briel
September 1, 2008 07.53 UK

IFA 2008 – BERLIN. Officials from the German Customs raided a number of stands at the IFA consumer electronics shows. Coming with full force of around 220 people, dozens of items including flat screens, MP3 players, set-top boxes, satellite receivers, DVD recorders and other equipment were seized.

According to a spokesperson from the German Zoll, the action concerned infringement on patent rights. Mostly Asian exhibitors were affected by the raid.

The first raids took place on Friday, immediately following the opening of the fair to the general public and were continued on Saturday.

(Pictures courtesy of Erik Nijhof – Hopper Guide)