The Italian finance police have seized 11 counterfeit mopeds at the Milan show after complaints from a Czech company (which I presume is Blata) over the fakes. Three Chinese citizens and one Italian were charged with patent violations. The motorcycles were perfect copies and even had the company trademark. The number of Chinese counterfeits is rising and Blata, for one, has been both a frequent target of the counterfeiters as well as an aggressive defender of its designs and products.

If the Chinese are bold enough to display fakes at an international motorcycle show, you know they are doing the same every chance they get in world markets. The suits by Yamaha against Yamoto and the fight by Blata against counterfeiters is an indication of how widespread the problem is. This problem is huge and everyone should be on alert for the deal that’s too good to be true.