NHL will be on the lookout for counterfeiters in Dallas this week, as the

city gears up for the league's first All-Star Game in Texas

    DALLAS, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- When the NHL All-Star Game visits
 Dallas this week, unsuspecting hockey fans -- eager to commemorate this
 special event -- will be targeted by counterfeiters attempting to sell
 unauthorized and poorly produced knock-off merchandise. Potential victims
 will range from legitimate retailers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to
 hockey fans who believe they're purchasing authentic merchandise, only to
 later learn they've obtained counterfeit merchandise of inferior quality.
     Since 1993, the NHL -- through its membership in the Coalition to
 Advance the Protection of Sports logos (CAPS) -- has been involved in the
 seizure of more than nine million pieces of counterfeit merchandise
 featuring the logos of various professional sports leagues and teams,
 colleges and universities -- valued at more than $300 million. Such
 counterfeiting often occurs around large sporting events like the NHL
 All-Star Game, taking place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on
 Wednesday, January 24.
     The NHL will be coordinating with local law enforcement authorities,
 who will be responsible for enforcing laws prohibiting the sale of
 counterfeit merchandise.
     "We want our fans to understand that you get what you pay for when it
 comes to counterfeits," said Michael Gold, NHL Enterprises associate
 counsel, legal and business affairs. "A counterfeit T-shirt is not a
 keepsake if it contains a typo or shrinks three sizes when you put it in
 the laundry."
     To avoid being victimized by counterfeiters, Gold urges fans to:
 
     --  Look for the NHL hologram sticker or hangtag and a sewn-in label
         identifying the merchandise as "official," as authorized by the NHL.
     --  Shop at official Dallas Stars team stores and souvenir stands, NHL.com
         and other legitimate retailers, rather than buying items from street
         vendors, flea markets, or other questionable sources.
     --  Beware of ripped tags, typographical errors, poor quality screen-
         printing, or irregular markings on apparel.
     --  Be suspicious of items where the price is too good to be true.
     In addition to misleading consumers who believe they are buying
 official memorabilia, counterfeiting significantly harms legitimate vendors
 through lost business.
     "We strive for the highest level of quality control," said Gold. "Not
 only do we want to protect legitimate local businesses who play by the
 rules, but we also want to ensure that our fans take home memorabilia that
 will last along with their memories of the All-Star Game."
     About CAPS:
     The Coalition to Advance the Protection of Sports logos (CAPS) is an
 alliance formed by The Collegiate Licensing Company, Major League Baseball
 Properties, Inc., NBA Properties, Inc., NFL Properties LLC, and NHL
 Enterprises, L.P. in 1992 to address common trademark protection and
 enforcement matters of its members. For more information, call
 1-800-TEL-CAPS (835-2277) or visit http://www.capsinfo.com .
 
 

SOURCE CAPS