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Kuwait Customs intercepted a consignment of children’s stationery items imported from China that displayed unauthorised reproductions of famous characters and visual elements. On inspection, customs officials recorded the following:

• No copyright notices: None of the items bore the © symbol or any reference to the underlying copyrights.
• No licensee/distributor identification: Packaging lacked an authorised manufacturer, licence number, company name or verifiable contact details.
• Quality concerns: The items were of very low quality, inconsistent with the standards of genuine licensed merchandise. 

The rights holder confirmed the goods were not genuine or licensed. This information was conveyed to Customs and forfeiture was requested.

Outcome 

On 17 September 2025, a seizure report was issued, and Kuwait Customs conducted a filmed destruction – an unprecedented enforcement action in this category within Kuwait. The video material has been circulated among enforcement agents and will serve as a benchmark for future actions. 

Destruction inventory (as reported by Kuwait Customs) 

• Water cups (various character themes): 637 items
• Sketchbooks (various character themes): 240 items

 (Specific character themes are withheld for confidentiality; counts reflect the filmed destruction log.) 

Why this matters 

• Precedent value: The case demonstrates decisive use of copyright-based border measures, even where local trade mark portfolios are incomplete.
• Deterrence effect: Sharing of enforcement outcomes across public sector agencies enhances operational awareness and deters imports of low-quality, unlicensed character merchandise.
• Regional signal: This case aligns Kuwait’s practice with international standards on rights holder verification and border forfeiture across the children’s goods and FMCG sectors. 

Practical takeaways for rights holders 

• Keep evidence ready: Maintain up-to-date copyright registrations, chain-of-title documents, and specimen artwork.
• Codify authenticity markers: Provide Customs with quick-reference guides on authorised licensee identifiers, packaging tells, and quality benchmarks.
• Invest in partnerships: Training and clear points-of-contact help accelerate authenticity confirmations and forfeiture decisions.
• Document outcomes: Encourage post-action reporting and, where appropriate, filmed destruction to build institutional memory and deterrence. 

Conclusion 

The August 2025 seizure and subsequent filmed destruction mark a significant advance in IP enforcement in Kuwait. By acting on clear indicia of unauthorised character use with rights holder confirmation, Kuwait Customs delivered a swift, well-documented result that strengthens marketplace integrity – especially in the back-to-school trade. 

The full article first appeared on the MARQUES Class 46 Blog.