China seizes fake "Tiffany" jewels headed for US

BEIJING, Aug 8 (Reuters) Chinese customs officials have seized more than 6,000 pieces of counterfeit ''Tiffany'' jewellery headed for the United States, state media reported as Beijing battles accusations it is soft on pirates.

Three shipments of the fake jewellery, inscribed with the upmarket brand of Tiffany and Co, were intercepted in east China's Zhejiang province, the Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

The items included necklaces, earrings and bracelets. The report did not describe their quality.

Beijing has been fending off complaints from the United States and European Union that it has not done enough to stamp out counterfeiters who copy films, music, software and luxury brands.

Washington and Brussels also say that many of the counterfeits reach overseas markets.

Tiffany&Co said on Monday it had won an injunction from a federal court against Starglam Inc, an e-commerce business which the high-end jewellery retailer said had been selling fake Tiffany-branded items made in Asia.

The Chinese report made no mention of that case.

Reuters SRS VP0422