REGION : Sales of Imitation Auto Security Devices Barred

Three area companies were barred last week from selling copies of “The Club” vehicle anti-theft devices that officials believe were imported from China and sold at cut-rate prices alongside the more expensive originals.

U.S. District Judge David V. Kenyon in Los Angeles issued an injunction against Emerson International Trading Inc. and TDC Tool Distribution Co., both of Paramount, and Golden Multi-International Inc. of Long Beach.

Emerson International apparently received a crate of imitation anti-theft devices as part of a larger shipment of goods from China, and distributed the devices to TDC Tool and Golden, according to court papers.

An attorney for Philadelphia-based Winner International, which manufactures “The Club,” said the replicas were designed to look exactly like the original product--including the use of similar graphics and colors. The copies did not have a name printed on the package, attorney Frank Gooch said.

“It is our contention that these were made intentionally to deceive somebody into thinking he or she was buying the real thing,” Gooch said.

Gooch said Winner International is also seeking to have all of the copies confiscated, and will seek damages from each defendant.

TDC owner Sonny Khanna said he will stop selling the imitation devices. “I never knew that I wasn’t supposed (to sell them),” Khanna said. “I went to a swap meet and saw them being sold there, so I figured it was OK.”

David Wong, a Golden Multi-International employee, said his company has also stopped selling the devices.

Attorney Long Nguyen, who represented Emerson International Trading, Inc., did not return phone calls.