L-Acoustics recently hosted a destruction event to mark the disposal of counterfeit loudspeakers seized following a judgment by the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, which ordered Se7ven Sounds Music to pay damages of 5 million U.S. dollars ($5 million US) to L-Acoustics in addition to granting the company the right to destroy the 136 forged units confiscated during the investigation.
Covered by the Tampa Bay Fox News and NBC News outlets, L-Acoustics invited local rental partners to destroy several counterfeit loudspeakers, subwoofers, and amplified controllers before delivering them to an independent sustainability firm that will recover and repurpose the fake products raw materials. The wood used in the cabinets will be repurposed for new wood products or renewable energy production, the metal will go toward creating home appliances, while plastic will find new life in office furniture, car parts, and containers.
“This event allowed our partners whose businesses were impacted by this company representing counterfeit products as authentic L-Acoustics technologies to have fun while releasing some frustration,” says BJ Shaver, director of sales for the Americas at L- Acoustics, who was present at the event. “Showing the industry that we are removing these fake products from the market helps to sustain the trust that our partners, production crews, audiences, and artists place in L-Acoustics.”
L-Acoustics states that the event, held at M & W Warehouse in Tampa, emphasized the importance the company places on authenticity, quality, and safety in the live events industry, which is estimated to be valued at $652.6 billion in the United States in 2022, with projections to reach $1.2 trillion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research.
Further, the company notes that counterfeit loudspeakers lack the stringent quality control and safety standards it upholds. Using fake components and subpar materials can lead to catastrophic failures, endangering lives and causing financial losses for partners.
“L-Acoustics’ solutions are not just products; they are a promise of quality, reliability, and safety,” concludes Dr. Laurent Ostojski, senior counsel at L-Acoustics, who welcomed partners and press at the event. “Thank you to our partners for working with us to ensure that the events we create for audiences here in Florida and around the world will always elevate the live event experience.”
To learn more about the L-Acoustics Counterfeit Task Force, how to spot a fake, and report any suspected counterfeits, head to the L-Acoustics Anti-Counterfeiting page. And to help the company fight counterfeiting, report fake products by emailing [email protected].
To view a video of the event, visit the L-Acoustics YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/USoxiIqke-E.
