Incredible fakes fire up Disney
Disney said today it is asking lawyers to take action over a flood of counterfeit toys being sold around Asia featuring characters from the smash hit movie The Incredibles.
Fake toys and merchandise are being sold across the region because toy shops are unable to keep up with demand for genuine items following the Disney-Pixar movie’s success.
The shortage was highlighted in Hong Kong where Toys R Us said last month it had been “kicking and screaming” for new supplies from licensee Hasbro but was still waiting.
Badly-made fake action figures are being sold across the former British territory, most of them apparently originating in China.
In a statement, a spokesman for Disney Consumer Products said: “We are aware of the counterfeit problems in Hong Kong and throughout Asia, and our legal department is currently investigating the most effective way to address the issue.
“Counterfeit products are a concern, not only because it is confusing to the consumer, but poor product quality can also be dangerous to children.”
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He said Disney was trying to get additional merchandise to key Asian retailers by sourcing toys from “alternate sources” to address the shortage.
Mr Hayashi added: “Disney Consumer Products and our licensees plan to better adjust our forecasts and be more flexible to the market opportunity for our film merchandise so we can react faster to demand.”
Connie Lau of the Hong Kong Consumer Council said parents could be exposing their children to “unknown risks” if they buy fake toys for them.
“I am not saying cheap is bad, but if a toy which usually sells for around 10 US dollars is being sold for one US dollar, you should be suspicious,” she said.
“If you suspect it is a fake, don’t buy it. If you do you could be exposing your children to unknown risks.”
Fake toys can contain small parts that can choke children and may have been made with paint containing high levels of metals such as lead, she said.
DPA
Last modified: April 12, 2005