Square Enix announced that a crackdown on counterfeit merchandise in the Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China has lead to criminal charges against a number of individuals. The charges were made back in May 2023 against six individuals who were involved in distributing counterfeit goods to retailers and three individuals who were involved in the manufacturing process.
In the press release from Square Enix, the company stated that products from franchises like Final Fantasy and NieR Automata were seized by authorities in China after a number of allegations were made by multiple Japanese and Chinese companies who sought to crack down on the illegal distribution of non-licensed and counterfeit goods. Square Enix reported that these illegal goods were utilizing the character designs from the company's games and were sold through major retailers in China, Japan, and different countries in the west.
Square Enix was able to enlist help from independent investigation firms and industry peers in order to collect the information provided to Guangdong authorities that ultimately lead to the charges against the individual counterfeiters.
Square Enix also shared an image of some of the illegal merchandise that was seized by Guangdong authorities, which includes statues of Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII and 2B from NieR Automata.
Square Enix reassured shareholders, stakeholders, and fans that the company intends to continue to "provide better products and services while maintaining and enhancing its brand image" and asked that customers and distributors associated with the company "remain vigilant and protect themselves against counterfeits."
Square Enix has a number of official goods for franchises like Final Fantasy and NieR Automata, including a Play Arts Kai figure of Tifa, SH Figuarts figure of 2B, the Masterline 2B statue that costs nearly $2,000 USD, and Tifa figures featuring the character in her Cheongsam dress from Final Fantasy VII Remake.
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