Birkenstock cracks down on fakes in India, court-ordered factory visits held, sources say
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian court-appointed legal representatives inspected small-scale factories in recent weeks to seize suspected counterfeit Birkenstock footwear, after the German brand launched an infringement lawsuit, people familiar with the matter said.
Birkenstock's case is occurring around the same time other shoemakers are in the news in India. Crocs this month secured a court nod to pursue a nine-year-old infringement case, while Prada is facing heat over showcasing sandals similar to ethnic Indian footwear without initially giving credit to India.
Reuters is first to report the Indian case details related to Birkenstock sandals, which have evolved from a counterculture symbol to a trendy fashion item, and are also popular in India.
In May, Birkenstock filed an infringement lawsuit in the Delhi High Court against four footwear traders, four factories and two unnamed individuals. Its complaint stated an internal investigation found counterfeits were being made in rural areas in and around the tourist hub of Agra, and sold locally and exported to other countries.
On May 26, Delhi judge Saurabh Banerjee issued a confidential order that was only made public on the court's website last week. It said 10 local lawyers were appointed as commissioners to visit the suspected factories.
The judge said commissioners can "seize, pack and seal the infringing products", and his order included photographs that Birkenstock submitted showing the alleged counterfeit footwear and shoe boxes with the company's branding.
The visits have been completed and reports were submitted confidentially to the judge, the three people familiar with the matter said on Saturday, asking to remain unidentified. The next hearing in the case is set for October 6.
The visits were conducted in Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, and in India's capital New Delhi, the people said, declining to give further details from their inspection.
Birkenstock did not respond to queries from Reuters and its lawyers from Delhi-based law firm Lall and Sethi declined to comment, citing the pending legal case.
In his May order, Banerjee said he reviewed photographs and samples of the alleged counterfeit products in court, and they "seem like a cheap knock off" of Birkenstock products.
"There is all likelihood of the public getting deceived ... The differences, hardly if any, are not something which can be discernable to the naked eyes," he wrote.
Once popular with hippies, tech enthusiasts and medical professionals, Birkenstock gained widespread attention after Australian actress Margot Robbie wore a pair of pink Birkenstocks in the final scene of the 2023 hit movie "Barbie".
In February, a German court said Birkenstock sandals do not qualify as art and are therefore not protected by copyright, dismissing a lawsuit brought by the German company.
In India, Birkenstock footwear for women is priced between $46 and $233.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
33 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
India bans real-money gaming, threatening a $23 billion industry
India's lower house of parliament on Wednesday passed a sweeping online gaming bill that, while promoting esports and casual gaming without monetary stakes, imposes a blanket ban on real-money games — threatening to disrupt billions of dollars in investment and significantly impact the real-money gaming industry, which could see widespread shutdowns. Titled the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, the legislation aims to prohibit real-money games nationwide — whether based on skill or chance — and ban both their advertisement and associated financial transactions, as TechCrunch earlier reported based on its draft version. 'In this bill, priority has been given to the welfare of society and to avoid a big evil that is creeping into society,' India's IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in parliament while introducing the bill. The proposed legislation restricts banks and other financial institutions from allowing transactions for real-money games in the country. Anyone offering these games could face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to ₹10 million (approximately $115,000), or both. Additionally, celebrities promoting such games on any media platform could be liable for up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of ₹5 million (roughly $57,000), the bill states. Vaishnaw said the decision to bring the legislation was to address several incidents of harm, including cases where individuals reportedly died by suicide after losing money in games. However, industry stakeholders largely attribute these incidents to offshore betting and gambling apps, which many believe will not be addressed by this legislation. 'This law is bound to face litigation as it fails the test of proportionality under Article 19(1)(g),' said Meghna Bal, director of the New Delhi-based think-tank Esya Centre. 'Instead of safeguarding consumers, it dismantles compliant onshore companies while opening the door wider for illegal offshore betting platforms that are the real source of financial harm.' Article 19(1)(g) of India's Constitution guarantees citizens the right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, trade, or business. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW Ahead of the bill's introduction in the Indian Parliament, industry bodies wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening, urging him to intervene. The letter — sent by the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, All India Gaming Federation, and E-Gaming Federation, a copy of which was reviewed by TechCrunch — warned that the proposed legislation could benefit 'illegal offshore gambling operations' while forcing Indian businesses to shut down. These industry bodies represent Dream Sports, MPL, WinZO, Gameskraft, Nazara Technologies, and Zupee, among other real-money gaming companies. 'By shutting down regulated and responsible Indian platforms, it will drive [millions] of players into the hands of illegal matka networks, offshore gambling websites, and fly-by-night operators who operate without any safeguards, consumer protections, or taxation,' the letter stated. (Matka is a form of illegal gambling that originated in India, involving betting on random numbers.) The three industry bodies estimated that real-money gaming startups in India have a combined enterprise valuation of ₹2 trillion (approximately $23 billion), generate cumulative revenues of ₹310 billion (around $3.6 billion), and contribute ₹200 billion (roughly $2.29 billion) annually in direct and indirect taxes. They also project a 28% compound annual growth rate that would double the industry's size by 2028. The industry groups warned that the blanket ban could result in the loss of more than 200,000 jobs and the closure of over 400 companies. A similar letter was also written to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah by these three industry associations. Some Indian and global investors are also calibrating their response, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. The source did not want to be named, as the plans are not yet public. Publicly-listed Nazara Technologies, which has previously invested in real-money gaming platforms including PokerBaazi and Classic Rummy, saw its share price fall 12.84% on Wednesday to close at ₹1,220 (about $14). The company, however, earlier clarified in a stock exchange filing (PDF) that it has 'no direct exposure' to real-money gaming businesses and that these platforms do not contribute to its revenues based on its latest reported financials. Nazara Technologies' Stock price on Wednesday Image Credits:Google Finance Dream Sports and MPL, two of the top real-money gaming startups, declined to comment, while WinZO, another popular real-money startup, did not respond. The bill was passed by voice vote in a noisy lower house less than seven minutes after it was introduced for debate. It now requires approval from the upper house and the president to become law. Meanwhile, some companies in casual gaming and esports have welcomed the move. 'We applaud this decision as it allows us to focus on the ongoing concerns as a business — monetization, retention, and most importantly, building great IP for India and the world, rather than having to explain to our audiences what we are to begin with,' said Sumit Batheja, CEO and co-founder of Ginger Games, which is part of Krafton's Indian gaming incubator and makes hyper casual games. Krafton is the South Korean gaming company behind the popular battle royale game PUBG. I welcome the Govt's decision to prohibit Real Money Gaming & establish a strong regulatory framework. 🇮🇳 Too many young lives were being lost to addiction & debt. This decisive step safeguards our youth while unlocking the future of Indian gaming — driven by original IP,… — Vishal Gondal (@vishalgondal) August 20, 2025 Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of esports company NODWIN Gaming, which is also a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, said the law needs to have clear distinctions between esports, online gaming, online social gaming, and online money gaming that are clearly defined and uniformly understood. 'The absence of precise definitions has often led to ambiguity and conflation around the term 'esports'. Such overlaps can create confusion not just for regulators, but also for players, teams, investors, and organizers who are working hard to build this industry,' he stated. Bal also told TechCrunch that the bill 'decimates esports,' as an authority set up by the Indian government would decide the validity of esports. 'The impact goes beyond real money gaming to the broader ecosystem of businesses that depend on it and indeed presents grave implications for the AVGC [Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics] sector as a whole,' she said. In 2023, the Indian government amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to curb 'user harm' from real-money games and proposed self-regulatory bodies to limit illegal betting and gambling while allowing legitimate games. However, the self-regulation approach faltered due to conflicts among industry stakeholders over enforcement and standards. New Delhi imposed a 28% tax on online gaming in 2023 to curb real-money play, prompting an outcry from industry stakeholders. Top investors — including Tiger Global, Peak XV Partners, and Kotak —urged Modi to reconsider, warning of $2.5 billion in write-offs and the potential loss of one million jobs. The tax, however, remained in place, even as companies challenged its retrospective application in the Supreme Court. Recent reports suggest it may be revised upward to 40% under new rules. Rohit Kumar, a founding partner of the New Delhi-based public policy firm The Quantum Hub, told TechCrunch that the real problem with the new bill is a lack of due process. 'Regulation is necessary, but abrupt moves like this undermine India's reputation as a stable, predictable investment destination. If concerns existed, the government should have signaled them clearly from the outset,' he said.
Bloomberg
34 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
US Crude Exports Set to Rebound From Summer Slump on Asia Demand
US crude exports are finally picking up after a muted summer as domestic refineries begin preventive maintenance and the Trump administration threatens tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. Shipments are expected to surpass 4 million barrels a day in August and September, reaching levels not seen since the start of the year, according to some market participants. The price of West Texas Intermediate crude in Asia is cheaper than comparable Middle Eastern grades, which should keep encouraging sales over the next two weeks as traders start selling oil for loading in October.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
FBI arrests woman on 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' hiding in India, transports to US for prosecution
EXCLUSIVE: The FBI captured and arrested an individual on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, Cindy Rodriguez Singh in India, for the alleged murder of her 6-year-old son, Fox News Digital has learned. Fox News Digital has learned that Rodriguez Singh had an active federal warrant for "Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution," and an active Texas state warrant for "Capital Murder of a Person Under 10 years of age." Rodriguez-Singh fled the United States to avoid prosecution for the alleged murder of her child, Noel Rodriguez Alvarez. On Oct. 3, 2024, an INTERPOL Red Notice was published for Rodriguez Singh and submitted to all member countries, including India. At that time, an extradition packet for Singh was also submitted. The FBI, in coordination with Indian authorities and INTERPOL, arrested Rodriguez Singh in India. She has been transported to the United States and the FBI will turn her over to Texas authorities. "The FBI's Ten Most Wanted list exists for cases just like this—where a dangerous fugitive thought she could run, hide overseas, and escape justice," an FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital. "Thanks to relentless FBI work and our international partnerships, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh is back on American soil to face accountability for the horrific murder of her own child." Patel added: "Justice has no borders, and today the American people can see that we will never stop pursuing those who prey on the most innocent among us." On March 20, 2023, the Everman Police Department was asked by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to conduct a welfare check on the 6-year-old son of Rodriguez Singh, after the child had not been seen since October 2022, according to the FBI. Singh's son had numerous health and developmental issues, including a severe developmental disorder, social disorder, bone density issues, chronic lung disease, pulmonary edema and estropia, according to officials. During the welfare check, officials said Rodriguez Singh lied to investigators and indicated that the child was in Mexico with his biological father and had been there since November 2022. On March 22, 2023, Rodriguez Singh, her husband, and 6 other juvenile children, boarded an international flight to India, the FBI said, adding that investigators confirmed that the missing child was not present and never boarded that flight. On October 31, 2023, Rodriguez Singh was charged with Capital Murder in the District Court of Tarrant County, Fort Worth, Texas. On November 2, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Rodriguez Singh in the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, after she was charged with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Rodriguez Singh was added to the "Most Wanted" list in July. Rodriguez Singh is the fourth person arrested on the "Most Wanted" list under Patel's leadership.
