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Birkenstock Targets Counterfeiters in India with Court-Backed Factory Raids

German footwear giant Birkenstock has launched a major legal offensive in India to combat the growing trade in counterfeit sandals. Following an internal investigation that uncovered fake Birkenstock products being manufactured in and around Agra, the company filed an infringement lawsuit in the Delhi High Court in May. The court responded swiftly. On May 26, Judge Saurabh Banerjee authorized ten court-appointed commissioners to conduct surprise inspections of suspected factories in Agra and New Delhi. These visits, now completed, resulted in the seizure and sealing of allegedly fake products bearing Birkenstock branding. The judge noted that the counterfeit sandals were nearly indistinguishable from genuine ones, posing a serious risk of deceiving consumers. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 6. Birkenstock’s crackdown comes amid a broader wave of intellectual property enforcement in India’s footwear industry, with brands like Crocs and Prada also pursuing legal act...

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Trump's Transition Team Plans to End Biden's EV Tax Credit

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is planning to eliminate the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle (EV) purchases, a key component of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. This move is part of broader tax-reform legislation aimed at reshaping U.S. energy policy.

The decision to end the EV tax credit could have significant implications for the U.S. EV market, particularly for automakers relying on the subsidy to compete against established players like Tesla. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has indicated that the removal of the credit might slightly impact Tesla's sales, he believes it would be devastating for other U.S. EV competitors.

The energy-policy transition team, led by billionaire oilman Harold Hamm and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, views the consumer EV credit as an easy target for elimination. The team believes that removing the credit would gain broad consensus in a Republican-controlled Congress and help offset the cost of extending Trump's original tax cuts.

As the transition team continues to meet and discuss these changes, the future of U.S. clean energy policies remains uncertain. The potential repeal of the EV tax credit highlights the ongoing debate over the direction of America's energy and environmental strategies under the incoming administration.

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