Troubled by Taiwanese copies of its power...

Troubled by Taiwanese copies of its power tools in the U.S. market, Makita USA has complained to the U.S. International Trade Commission. The Japanese tool maker, with U.S. facilities in Cerritos, Calif. and Buford, Ga., is alleging that a group of Taiwan manufacturers and exporters together with American importers are infringing on Makita’ trademarks with their knockoffs, particularly of Makita’s cordless tool line.

“Our national sales force began spotting ‘rip-offs’ of Makita products at trade shows and in retail outlets and advertising,” said Patrick Griffin, vice president of marketing. “We’ve heard about customers who were told that the tools come ‘from Makita’s back door’ or ‘from Makita’s Taiwan plant.’ We don’t have a back door and we don’t make any tools in Taiwan. The Taiwanese tools are poor-quality copies, and the public is being duped into believing otherwise.”