Our Services

G.R.S have a D.T.I registered Warehouses in JHB, these are storage facilities utilised for storing counterfeit goods evidence by brand holders and / or their representatives like lawyers and companies who have the Power of Attorney in South Africa.

Counterfeiting of brands is an International dilemma, but unfortunately a huge problem in specific South Africa and our neighbouring countries in Africa.
• How can you protect your products against Counterfeiting n South Africa?
o The Counterfeit Goods Act enables the owners of certain intellectual property rights or any other person with an interest in the protected goods, including the licensee, importer, exporter, distributor and/or duly authorised attorney or agent, to act speedily and efficient on either a criminal or a civil level again person involved in counterfeiting.
• Which intellectual property rights are protected under the Act?

• The Counterfeit Goods Act enables the owners of certain intellectual property rights or any other person with an interest in the protected goods, including the
  licensee, importer, exporter, distributor and/or duly authorised attorney or agent, to act speedily and efficient on either a criminal or a civil level again person involved in counterfeiting.

• In terms of the Act, the counterfeit goods must feature either a trade mark that is registered in South Africa, or constitutes a trade mark that is well known in
  South Africa.  (Whether registered or not) or a copyrighted work and/or must contain a prohibited mark that is protected under the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act.

The process

• Investigation into the Manufacture and Distribution of the counterfeit product
• Test purchasing and product analysis or direct civil undertaking obtained.
• SAP Case opened, investigation done from their side
• Search and Seizure Operations (Raids arranged)
• Transported from and to warehouse facility
• Safekeeping of Goods/Evidence – Civil or Criminal
• Criminal action support and liaison with Government agencies
• Goods go for destruction or given back to client

• Assessment of the applicable intellectual property rights
• Conducting of raids and seizure of counterfeit goods
• Counterfeit investigations and co-ordination or international investigations
• Civil proceedings and criminal procedure support and assistance
• Combating on-line counterfeiting

• Disruptive Raids
• Customs and JMPD involved
• Target street vendor stalls
• S.A.P.S ( South African Police Services ) assisted raids
• Raids conducted after application and obtaining of search and search
  warrants by a judge.

• Search operations with SAPs
• Raids conducted after application and obtaining of search and search warrants
  by a judge.

• Target parts/harbours, airports, warehouses
• Identifications are made by informers
• Visit and inspection of containers at ALL harbours and border posts on a regular basis.

• Identifying / Investigating the source of counterfeit goods or production facility.
• We follow the source and the origin and have successfully done so up to China
• Arrange with the needed authorities to have the raid onduted and / or the suspect (s)
  apprehended.
• Transport the goods to our D.T.I approved warehouses for short / medium or long
  term storage. ( G.R.S have its own fleet ranging from small pick-ups up and to 8 ton
  trucks, should more and bigger transport be needed trucks are contracted out )
• Provide samples where needed for analysis or court proceedings.
• After instruction destroy the evidence on site or depending on environmental laws or
  the product escort it to the correct dumpsites and under supervision have it destroyed.
• Provide the brand holder or representative with a legal destruction certificate and
  digital images of before / during and after pictures.
• Transport is also provided to dump sites.