NBI raids 4 stores selling Cobonpue furniture imitations

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday raided four furniture stores suspected of selling imitations of the world-famous Kenneth Cobonpue furniture.

Lawyer Ann Edillon, representing Cobonpue, said the raids were conducted in the stores of John Tanjueco in Tagaytay City, Bacoor City, Pulilan in Bulacan and this city, where the manufacturing is done.

Tanjueco was cornered by the NBI agents at his Jasmine Furnitures shop here.

Edillon said Tanjueco has been manufacturing and selling imitations of the sought-after furniture.

She said her client’s customers include not only top Hollywood celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, but also royalty like Queen Sophia of Spain and Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

In 2007, TIME magazine called Cobonpue “rattan’s first virtuoso.”

“Tanjueco has been violating the copyright laws or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines by imitating the furniture designs of my client,” Edillon said.

Edillon and NBI agents from Manila found some replicas of Cobonpue’s designs on display in the shop’s showroom here, while unfinished imitations of “La Luna” chairs were also found in the warehouse.

Edillon said the raid was covered by a court order in Manila authorizing the NBI to confiscate imitation furniture and raw materials and equipment for making them.

Tanjueco reportedly admitted manufacturing furniture pieces according to Cobonpue’s designs but insisted he did them only because his customers asked him to copy such designs.

Asked how many imitations he had done for customers, he admitted having done so many that he had lost count.

Admitting his mistake, Tanjueco sought forgiveness from Cobonpue and vowed to stop copying his designs.