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WWE looks to fight online counterfeit sales
MUMBAI: MarkMonitor, which works in the area of online corporate identity protection, has announced that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has selected MarkMonitor’s Auction Monitoring solution.
The aim is to monitor the sale of WWE branded goods on the site eBay and to automate requests to terminate counterfeit and other unauthourised auctions.
MarkMonitor’s Auction Monitoring solution is the newest addition to its integrated suite of online brand and fraud protection services that provide end-to-end detection and aggressive response to a growing list of corporate identity-based threats from misappropriation of trademark rights, to unauthourised online sales of gray market and counterfeit goods to phishing.
More than $34 billion worth of merchandise exchanges hands annually at online retail auction sites. While online retail and wholesale auctions have become major vehicles for the sale and distribution of legitimate products globally, they’ve also become a distribution channel for gray market sales and counterfeiters.
WWE associate counsel of intellectual property, Stacy Papachristos says, “The trademark offenses are flagrant. I frequently identify counterfeiters on eBay selling illegal copies of our programming, Home Video releases, and counterfeit clothing. I used to spend several hours each day searching eBay manually for offenses. With MarkMonitor’s new auction monitoring capability, I’ll receive a daily automated snapshot of suspicious auctions and suspect resellers. ”
“Using one integrated workflow system, I can determine whether to send a cease and desist letter, to report the offense to eBay or, in the most egregious cases, request a suspension of the seller, and determine the necessity of further legal action,” adds Papachristos.
MarkMonitor’s Auction Monitoring gives corporations control of their brands and how their products, legitimate as well as counterfeit, are sold on online auction sites through a comprehensive corporate identity management solution that may also include domain management and fraud and brand
protection. The service scans auction sites, identifies and prioritises the abuses that are most costly or of greatest concern, and enables automated responses which allow for swift, meaningful action on violations.
MarkMonitor CEO Mark Shull says, “Online markets are growing rapidly, and unfortunately they are ideal for gray marketers and counterfeiters. It is no longer possible for companies to manually monitor fraudulent sales and brand abuse, much less take action and track results. MarkMonitor’s Auction Monitoring and other Brand Protection systems automatically find, prioritise and present the most serious problems, and then automate and track shutdown, cease and desist letters and other actions in a central case management system”.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
