Businessman Hong Jianshe and his associates were recently convicted for their involvement in a counterfeit luxury goods scheme, where they sold fake products bearing registered trademarks of leading international brands including LV or Louis Vuitton, Dior and Chanel.

The group operated under the name "Dubai Harbor" and established various departments for broadcasting, customer service, logistics and design.

From May 2019 to August 2020, Hong purchased counterfeit bags, sunglasses, jewelry and watches from suppliers and sold them openly, resulting in sales amounting to over 14 million yuan ($1.95 million).

In September 2020, Hong and several suppliers were arrested and 6,084 counterfeit items were seized with a total value of over 500,000 yuan.

Thirty-nine individuals, including Hong, were charged with selling counterfeit products.

Hong was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 7 million yuan, while other employees and suppliers received prison sentences ranging from six months to three years and six months, with fines and suspended sentences depending on their involvement.

Nineteen individuals who voluntarily confessed and returned their illegal gains were not charged.

This case is said to show the Chinese government's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and cracking down on illegal activities in the flourishing e-commerce market.