Briefly: Sale of Hermes knockoffs banned

Customs officials on Thursday banned imports of bags resembling Hermes' coveted Birkin and Kelly products, the first such move based on the external appearances of high-end brands.

The measure, requested by Hermes Japon Co., was taken on the basis of the Unfair Competition Prevention Law.

Birkin, pictured top right, and Kelly bags, bottom right, have been the fashion house's signature items for decades, ranging in price from 800,000 yen to 10 million yen a piece.

Low-priced knockoffs bearing striking resemblances to the genuine bags but without the Hermes logo are in wide circulation in Japan, many of them sold on the Internet.(IHT/Asahi: May 16,2008)