In the context of strong development of e-commerce and online business activities, the production and trading of counterfeit goods and goods violating intellectual property rights not only occurs in small-scale forms but is increasingly "legalized" through the establishment of businesses.
This reality is posing many challenges for market management, consumer rights protection as well as a healthy business environment.
Recently, the authorities in Hanoi have continuously discovered many cases of subjects establishing companies and registering businesses legally, but in fact to conceal the act of trading in counterfeit goods.
Enterprises "mingle" counterfeit goods trading activities
At the end of November 2025, through the work of reviewing and verifying information, Market Management Team No. 1 - Hanoi Market Management Department conducted an inspection of Minh Ngoc Vietnam Trading Company Limited.
This enterprise registered its head office at 751 Nguyen Duc Thuan, Gia Lam commune (Hanoi), but in fact, it was operating a business at BT-38 Lan Vien 2 (Dong Anh, Hanoi).
At the time of inspection, the authorities determined that the company used a Facebook account named MinhNgocVongBi to post, introduce and sell ball ring products under the SKF brand - a brand that has been protected by intellectual property in Vietnam.
All product images are taken by personal page managers at the warehouse, then used for advertising and sales activities on social networks.
Through an actual inspection at the warehouse, the Market Management Team discovered a total of 29,886 ball bearings with signs of SKF trademark counterfeiting. Notably, there are 62 large ball loops with a diameter of about 46cm, weighing up to 120kg each - the type of ball loops is often used for heavy industrial lines and equipment in the steel and cement sectors, large-scale production.
According to the assessment of the authorities, if these goods are brought to the market and used in industrial machinery systems, the risk of technical safety loss, equipment damage, and even causing great economic damage is very high. Timely detection and prevention of violating shipments not only protects consumer rights but also contributes to ensuring safety for production activities.
sophisticated tricks, taking advantage of digital platforms to expand violations
Not stopping at one single case, Hanoi Market Management Department discovered many other cases with similar tricks. A typical example is the inspection of LACTO MASON Vietnam Co., Ltd. - a unit that ordered, processed and traded goods that violated the intellectual property rights of the "Lacto Mason" brand.
At the time of inspection (July 24, 2025), the authorities discovered that this enterprise had not announced its business location according to regulations, and was also trading many products with the mark "Lacto Mason" on packaging, labels, invoices and sales contracts. This is a trademark that has been protected in Vietnam.
Products with signs of violations include health protection foods, vaginal pills and women's hygiene gel cosmetics. The company also used the e-commerce website lactomason.com.vn to promote and advertise products but did not disclose full information according to regulations, and at the same time posted information about the violating goods on the network environment.
Through inspection, there were a total of 6 types of violating products with a value of nearly 1.46 billion VND; the number of goods sold was worth more than 75 million VND, of which the estimated illegal profit was more than 68.9 million VND.
At the meeting, the Director of LACTO MASON Vietnam Co., Ltd. admitted that all acts of ordering, processing and trading goods violated intellectual property rights, as well as using signs of violation on company names, invoices, contracts and products.
For the above acts, the Market Management Force has drawn up a record and proposed to fine LACTO MASON Vietnam Co., Ltd. with a total amount of up to 634.5 million VND according to the provisions of law.
According to the assessment of the authorities, the exploitation of legal business forms to organize the production and trading of counterfeit goods and goods that infringe on intellectual property rights is becoming a worrying trend.
E-commerce and social networks, while bringing many conveniences to genuine consumers and businesses, are also being exploited by violators as a "cover" to conceal illegal acts.
The Hanoi Market Management Department affirmed that it will continue to strengthen coordination with authorities, authorities and digital platforms to promptly detect and strictly handle violations.
