Schneider Electric Continues Campaign Against Counterfeiting - Modern Distribution Management

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Schneider Electric Continues Campaign Against Counterfeiting


North American Breaker Co. (NABCO) has been enjoined in federal court from buying or selling virtually all Square D QO circuit breakers, and two other companies -CES Liquidating Inc. and TES Liquidating LLC -have been enjoined from selling any of Schneider Electric's Square D products.


Square D filed suit against NABCO on July 26, 2006, contending that the company placed 50,594 counterfeit Square D circuit breakers into the field. In the suit, Square D alleged that NABCO was guilty of trademark infringement.


Counterfeit Square D products pose serious health and safety hazards to innocent customers," said Bill Snyder, vice president-channel distribution for the Schneider Electric North American Operation Division. "Through this lawsuit and others like it, Square D has ...
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North American Breaker Co. (NABCO) has been enjoined in federal court from buying or selling virtually all Square D QO circuit breakers, and two other companies -CES Liquidating Inc. and TES Liquidating LLC -have been enjoined from selling any of Schneider Electric’s Square D products.

Square D filed suit against NABCO on July 26, 2006, contending that the company placed 50,594 counterfeit Square D circuit breakers into the field. In the suit, Square D alleged that NABCO was guilty of trademark infringement.

Counterfeit Square D products pose serious health and safety hazards to innocent customers,” said Bill Snyder, vice president-channel distribution for the Schneider Electric North American Operation Division. “Through this lawsuit and others like it, Square D has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to prevent counterfeiting and protect Square D’s customers, trademarks and designs.”

The suit against NABCO also requires the company to provide Square D with records going back to 2004 identifying its suppliers and purchasers of Square D products, along with information about quantities acquired and sold.

“Armed with NABCO’s supplier list, Square D has every intention of pursuing counterfeiters up and down the distribution chain,” Snyder said.

CES Liquidating Inc. (formerly Connecticut Electric & Switch Manufacturing Company) and TES Liquidating Inc. (formerly Tacoma Electric Supply LLC) are permanently enjoined from marketing, selling, distributing, purchasing and importing any Square D products.

The injunction arose out of Square D’s claims that CES and TES sold counterfeit circuit breakers bearing Square D trademarks. Square D claimed that the two sold 85,000 counterfeit circuit breakers.

Square D had filed suit Dec. 20, 2006, alleging that CES and TES participated in advertising, product disparagement and trademark infringement in violation of federal and state law.

In order to prevent the potential purchase of counterfeit products, customers should continue to purchase their Square D products from authorized Square D distributors.

Square D is a brand of Schneider Electric for National Electrical Manufacturing Association type electrical distribution and industrial control products, systems and services. Square D products are found in all types of residential, commercial and industrial construction, in a wide range of manufacturing and processing facilities, and in or on the products of other manufacturers.

A copy of the lawsuits and Consent Orders for Permanent Injunctive and Other Relief are available by calling the Square D Legal Department (847) 397-2600.

Headquartered in Palatine, IL, the North American Operating Division of Schneider Electric had sales of $3.7 billion in 2006. The North American Operating Division is one of four operating divisions of Schneider Electric, Paris, France, and markets the Square D, Telemecanique and Merlin Gerin brand products. Schneider Electric has 2006 sales of $17.2 billion worldwide.

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