Written by Steve Blechman
21 May 2019

19counterfeits

BLATANT WORLDWIDE SUPPLEMENT COUNTERFEITING?!

IT MUST STOP NOW!

 

What the hell is this? It must stop now!

           

On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, President Trump decided to take swift action concerning theft of U.S. companies’ intellectual properties. To quote a recent article from Fox Business News, “This president has decided that it’s time to clean up this Wild West of counterfeiting and trafficking,” said Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council.1

           

I agree with the President! It is time to crack down! Mr. Navarro goes on to state in the article, “The central core of the problem is that right now, third-party online marketplaces ... have zero liability when it comes to trafficking in these counterfeit goods. That simply has to stop. We are going to attack that on numerous fronts.”2

           

I have known Gerard Dente for many years. He is a man of great character, an insightful businessman and a former top national competitor bodybuilder. Gerard has worked so hard to build his companies and reputation— globally! Gerard is a pioneer in this industry. From starting as a bodybuilder, learning about nutrition, training and good health— he applied that knowledge into his companies.

           

Lately, Gerard has found himself the victim of a possible counterfeit scam by a company in Brazil, placing their own labels on his products. If the allegations of counterfeiting are true, I find this practice abhorrent that Nutri Import would try and steal his proprietary formulas and trademarks that he built over the years as a global brand and parade them as their own Blue Series. Shameful! This type of blatant counterfeiting, if it is true, (as seen in the link to the following video) needs to be stopped. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=416396245603227

           

In fact, at the age of 18, in 1986, Dente won the NPC New Jersey Championships by placing as Teen Overall Winner. A year later he won the NPC Teen Nationals, placing first in the heavyweight division and being named Overall Winner. Although Dente had been an all-state football player and played defensive tackle for his high school, it was then Dente decided to concentrate full time on his bodybuilding career over the next 10 years in the NPC. In 1988, Gerard won the NPC Collegiate Nationals while attending Montclair State College. In the NPC USA Championships in 1995, Dente placed third in the heavyweight division and ended his career after placing fourth in the NPC North Americans. I signed Gerard as an athlete for Twinlab (1994-1996) when I was Executive Vice President and personally placed him on the covers of Muscular Development in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2001. In fact, I stated in an article about Gerard, “With his muscularity, classic shape and symmetry, Gerard was always in great condition when he competed.” As an athlete, Gerard was very well recognized and respected in the sport.

           

After 10 years of trying to achieve his pro bodybuilding dream, Gerard Dente decided to end his bodybuilding career. He decided to go on a new path for himself and would investigate another career, supplements— and what a career it was! In 1997, Gerard founded Maximum Human Performance (MHP)— with its aim of producing science-based, nutritional supplements for the bodybuilding and fitness community.

           

In my over 30 years in the bodybuilding and sports nutrition industry, I would put Gerard as one of the top product innovators and marketers, which is evident with the global success and popularity of Muscle Meds and MHP. As CEO of MHP and MuscleMeds, Gerard does much for his customers, athletes, employees and communities. In a recent article that appeared in Muscular Development, Gerard said, “When you see something that you worked extremely hard to build, there’s an extreme amount of sentimental value that goes with it.” I couldn’t agree more.

           

I feel bad not only for Gerard and MHP, but other fine companies in our industry that may have gone through the same situation. I will continue to speak out against counterfeit products in our industry!

 

References:

1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-combating-trafficking-counterfeit-pirated-goods/

 

2. https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/trump-signs-memorandum-to-stem-counterfeit-goods-trafficking

 

DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE ON THE MD FORUM

 

 

 

FOLLOW MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT ON:

FACEBOOK: MuscularDevelopment Magazine

TWITTER: @MuscularDevelop

INSTAGRAM: @MuscularDevelopment

YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/2fvHgnZ