In a recent court ruling, businesswoman Shao Jing was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, suspended for one year and six months and fined 60,000 yuan ($8,325) for selling counterfeit Maries brand drawing boards. The case came to light when police raided her warehouse in Linyi city, in East China's Shandong province in September 2022.

From October 2020 to August 2022, Shao was found to have operated without authorization from Shanghai Marie Painting Materials Co Ltd, selling counterfeit goods online, primarily through Pinduoduo and Taobao. She generated sales of over 200,000 yuan, with profits totaling 25,000 yuan. Investigations revealed that the boards exceeded formaldehyde standards, posing health risks.

The prosecution argued that Shao's actions not only infringed on Shanghai Marie's trademark but also endangered public health, particularly of minors. The court upheld the claims, emphasizing the need to protect public interests.

In addition to her sentence, Shao agreed to a public apology through national media and paid triple the punitive compensation to a charitable center for children's development. The verdict, issued by Jinshan District Court, has been finalized. The case is said to underscore China's commitment to combatting counterfeit goods and safeguarding consumer rights.