Fake 'Nokia' Phones Manufactured in Iran; A Government-Licensed Company Delivers Counterfeit Goods to Consumers

Several media outlets in Iran reported the production of counterfeit mobile phones branded as 'Nokia' by a company licensed by the Ministry of Industry, despite complaints from Nokia and its official representative, as well as protests from the Finnish ambassador in Tehran regarding this issue. The website 'Tejarat News' reported on Thursday, March 8, that Nokia phones in the Iranian market are 'produced without being licensed by the Finnish company and have even prevented the entry of this brand's products into the market.' According to the report, 'Nokia and its official representative in Iran, as plaintiffs, deny granting any authority or privilege for the production and sale of goods to the Chinese and Iranian company.' Tejarat News further questioned on what basis the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade (IMT) 'has granted such a license to a company that is not the official representative of Nokia in Iran and has delivered counterfeit goods to consumers.' The website added: 'Do these phones meet the necessary standards? If the necessary standards exist, why does the copying company not market it under its own brand?' Earlier, on February 17, coinciding with reports about the controversial and heavily litigated 'Kourosh Company,' the Telegram channel 'Chand Saniyeh' published images and documents stating: 'You might find it strange to know that an Iranian company has been producing and selling fake Nokia phones for a year without a license, and no one is stopping them.' It continued: 'Despite Nokia's lawsuit and media exposés against it, this company continues its activities.' Meanwhile, according to the Tehran-based newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad', the official representative of the 'Nokia' brand in Iran announced on February 21 that this company currently 'has not granted any license for the production of Nokia mobile phones in Iran to any company and has no imports to Iran.' In a letter from Nokia's lawyer in Iran to the Deputy Minister of Communications and the head of the Radio Regulatory Authority, it was stated that 'an Iranian company is illegally using the famous Nokia trademark to offer phones with the said mark.' On the other hand, a letter from the Finnish ambassador in Tehran addressed to the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade of the Islamic Republic was published by Hossein Salavarzi, the former head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, stating that these issues had previously been brought to the attention of government officials and protests had been made against the continuation of this process. However, according to the website 'Tabnak', Mohammad Mehdi Baradaran, the Deputy Minister of IMT, in response to the Finnish ambassador's letter regarding the production of counterfeit Nokia phones, stated: 'Even if the destination country has sent a letter, given that these countries have sanctioned Iran, their opinion is not important to us, and we have no obligations to them.' The 'Mehr' news agency also reported on March 5, quoting IMT officials, that 'this issue has been referred to the Support Organization. However, according to a previous government resolution, the requirement for having an official representative for production units has been lifted due to the sanctions conditions.' It was further stated: 'Regarding whether using a foreign brand name is considered counterfeiting, it should be noted that using a foreign brand name in relation to this unit is not counterfeiting.' This is while the Finnish company producing mobile phones under the 'Nokia' brand also has an official and legal representation in Iran. Tejarat News deemed this issue a 'scandal,' quoting Mohammad Reza Aliyan, the secretary of the Iran Mobile Ecosystem Congress, stating: 'This is a strange issue in business where a company competes with its own copycat.' He said: 'If this [domestic copying] company really has the power and ability to produce technology, why does it not appear in the market with its own brand and Iranian name?' The secretary of the Iran Mobile Ecosystem Congress emphasized: 'These [existing ambiguities] are issues that go beyond ethical and commercial matters, and the authorities must be accountable in this regard.'