By Brian Aylward
Textile brands around the world are at risk — but many don’t even know it. Unfortunately, the supply of counterfeit components — distributed under the trademarks of reputable industry suppliers — is all too common. Now more than ever, it’s critical for apparel, footwear and home textile brands to verify the authenticity of the raw materials they use in their products. To help global partners in this effort, Microban has taken an aggressive stance against companies who illegally sell products under the company’s trademarks.
Microban is pleased to announce that it continues to win trademark disputes against Greenchem International Company Ltd. for the fraudulent use of the company’s AEGIS antimicrobial trademark. Since 2013, Greenchem International has illegally used the AEGIS brand name to distribute its own antimicrobial finishes. Microban has won 10 trademark disputes to date, across Asia Pacific, related to Greenchem’s activities.
With a proven track record in textiles and footwear, AEGIS is a trusted and effective odor control antimicrobial on the market today. Renowned for its performance and versatility, AEGIS branded products are incorporated into fabric, fiber, and foam products around the world.
Millions of dollars have been invested in the Aegis technology — since its introduction — to ensure customers receive a high-quality antimicrobial product solution. Inauthentic products, distributed illegally under the AEGIS mark, aren’t subject to the same quality standards as the original chemistry. Textile articles treated with these counterfeit materials are, therefore, at higher risk of performance failure. These failures can damage a brand’s reputation with the global consumer.
In addition to quality risks, use of counterfeit antimicrobials can have significant legal consequences. That’s because antimicrobials are regulated in many countries. This includes the U.S. where the EPA regulates products under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Europe where products are controlled under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). Use of unregistered antimicrobials can result in large penalties, fines, seizure of illegally treated end-products and public disclosure of regulatory violations.
Antimicrobials are proven functional finishes capable of improving a product’s bottom line. Insure your brand is seeing the best possible return by working with industry leaders who provide authentic technologies.
Editor’s note: Brian Aylward is Microban’s senior director of Global Textiles.
December 14, 2018
