Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH successful against plagiarisms

Medium-sized businesses strike back!

In Germany alone plagiarised products cause billions of Euros of damage each year. The products of the German medium-sized are also increasingly attracting the Asian imitators. The premium tool manufacturer, Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH, from Schonach in Germany can tell a thing or two about the unequal battle of a German middle-sized company against the masses of product pirates – and strikes back successfully.

Schonach – For almost 70 years the name Wiha has stood for quality in precision tools. Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH belongs to the trend setters in the branch with regard to functionality and design – exactly the qualities which make it a favourite target for product pirates. "There are some models that are produced and sold more often as plagiarised products than the original, for example the Wiha hexagon fold-out holder PocketStar", laments Rainer Blum, Developer/Patents Supervisor at Wiha. "We estimate that plagiarised products result in a six-digit amount of lost turnover every year."

A problem with which Wiha by no means stands alone in Germany: The machine and plant manufacturers estimate the losses they suffered through plagiarised products last year to 7 billion Euros. In the majority of cases the scene of the crime lies in Asia: 71 percent of all fakes originate from China. Which make the Chinese the number one thieves of ideas. "German products enjoy a good reputation, making them coveted objects for copying in Asia", says Wilfried Hahn, managing partner of Wiha. Buyers of plagiarised products often have no idea of what they are buying or are driven by the impulse to get a bargain, a fact which backfires sooner or later. Wilfried Hahn: "The joy resulting from cheap copied tools usually does not last long. At best the poor quality material results in faster wear, at worst in injuries."

Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH has already been involved in the fight against illegal fakes for years: In addition to entering trademark rights and the product name, Wiha has increasingly been searching for plagiarised products on fairs and also scans the Internet. In addition it cooperates closely with the customs authorities: Suppliers who have already attracted attention due to plagiarised products are reported to the customs authorities, faked goods are confiscated.


Although the activities often have the feel of tilting against windmills, Wiha can increasingly report successes: Thus, for example, some Chinese companies have taken plagiarised Wiha products out of their range of goods. "By-and-by our measures are making an impact. Word has apparently got around on the market that we are actively fighting against product piracy. Which seems to have a deterring effect", says Hahn. The customer too can protect himself against fakes: "When Wiha is written on the outside, there's usually Wiha inside – our trademark is being forged less often. Supposed "bargains" on the Internet or from rummage tables should nevertheless be avoided: Instead tools should be bought from speciality retailers for high quality tools."

As an international manufacturer of high quality tools, we are amongst the leading manufacturers in our industry. Wiha presents Premium Tools of highest quality, in both function and design.

Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH
Obertalstrasse 3-7
78136 Schonach/Germany
Contact: Marianne Müller
e-Mail: presse@wiha.com
homepage: http://www.wiha.com

This release was published on openPR.