Dear readers,

I would like to inform some things about fake AndoAndoAndo products and potential domain names.

Fake Ando Watches

There have been a Chinese company called "Chongqing Ruituosi E-commerce Co., Ltd" that used my design for the Vinyl Watches (if you look at the structure of the registration you will understand. The case also resembles more closely to some of the Minimal Wear collaboration models) , registered to EUIPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office, as EUD, European Union design, through a representative in Spain called TELLAVAS, S.L.U.:
https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/designs/015141112-0001

(Also, a big thank you to Berggren law firm which kindly offered me a free meeting to talk about this issue)

I could have submit an objection claim to it, but the problem is that the EUIPO register any applications without checking if there are similar application. And to make a claim, I have to pay to EUIPO. Also to register, I need to pay to EUIPO.

EUIPO claims that EUD protects design, but well I would say it's a flawed system, that would be beneficial for companies who can spend money to register and copy other people's works, and for EUIPO.

And it seems be it is sold through Aliexpress. (I think there was also the A-1 or A-2 copy listing on Aliexpress a while ago)

I think this is pretty unfair situation for a small company like AndoAndoAndo. It takes time and money to deal with this, while the wrongdoer (and EUIPO) are profiting on the time and effort I put into my creation.

Although I had to write this systematic failure to protect the designs and small companies, I am personally not so concerned about them copying my design, as I intend to create more strange, fun, unique designs.

Potential Fake Domain Names

But I would like to warn you another problem we are facing; MTPIO.org.cn kindly noticed me that a company called "a company claimed “Peading Global Ltd” were applying to register ” andoandoando ” as their Brand Name and some ” andoandoando ” Asian countries top-level domain names" through their firm. The domain names are following:

 andoandoando .asia
 andoandoando .in
 andoandoando .co.in
 andoandoando .cn
 andoandoando .com.cn
 andoandoando .net.cn
 andoandoando .org.cn
 andoandoando .tw
 andoandoando .com.tw
 andoandoando .hk
 andoandoando .com.hk
 
The only domain name AndoAndoAndo has is the www.andoandoando.com , and all above domain names are not mine. And as MTPIO mentioned to me, "the domain names registration is open-wide, so that company also has the right to apply for those available domain names". Of course unless I get those domain names first.

Again, if I were to deal with this problem, it benefits domain name holders / service providers, while I lose my time and money. If I don't do it, it would cause confusions to my potential customers, benefits the wrongdoers and the domain name holders / service providers.

I hope now you know the situation. Let's keep doing honest works and make others aware of the wrongs of this world.

All the best wishes,
-Yu