30 Yamaha counterfeit products uncovered! The full story of the intellectual property strategy to protect genuine Yamalube oil

Engine oil is a “liquid part” and quality deterioration poses serious risks

Engine oil circulates inside a motorcycle engine like human blood. Oil performs a wide range of functions, including lubrication, sealing, cooling, cleaning, and rust prevention, and is essential for maintaining the quality and performance of the product.

Tsuyoshi Fukushima of Yamaha’s CX Division says, “We view oil as a liquid part, and develop genuine oil at the same time as we develop engines. Just as each part of the body has its own appropriate blood supply, we cannot pour poor quality oil into our customers’ precious cars.”

The deterioration in quality caused by counterfeit products is a serious problem that directly affects the safety of riders.

The reality of the rapidly increasing damage caused by counterfeit goods in Indonesia

In recent years, Indonesia has been hit by a series of crackdowns on counterfeit products falsely claiming to be genuine Yamaha oil, “YAMALUBE.” The country is a huge market with approximately 8 million Yamaha motorcycles in use, many of which use “YAMALUBE.”

The total global demand for Yamalube is about 100 million liters, of which about 40 million liters are consumed in the Indonesian market. This large scale makes it an ideal target for counterfeiters.

30 cases uncovered through police cooperation and thorough investigation process

In order to eradicate the damage caused by counterfeit goods, Yamaha has cooperated with local police and has uncovered around 30 cases in the past five years.Their methods are highly systematic and scientific.

From undercover investigations disguised as ordinary customers to ingredient analysis

According to Hikari Hakamada of the Intellectual Property Strategy Department, investigators first visit retailers disguised as regular customers. They record various evidence and analyze the ingredients of the oil purchased. If the oil turns out to be a counterfeit, they immediately file a complaint with the police.

Through mutual cooperation, in which information is actively provided by the police, efficient crackdowns are being achieved.

Pursuing a fundamental solution through gradual sanctions

The response after the crackdown is also designed to be staged. First, the suspect is asked to stop selling and destroy the counterfeit goods. Then, a settlement proposal is presented, which requires the suspect to provide information about the distribution route and to publish an apology in a national newspaper.

If they do not comply with these rules, the case will go to court, and there have been cases where they have actually been found guilty. Hakamada explains, “We are not trying to corner small-scale retailers. Our mission is to trace back the sales network to identify the sources of counterfeit goods and eliminate the damage caused by them under the law.”

Introducing a QR code authentication system that allows customers to spot counterfeits themselves

To combat counterfeit goods, Yamaha is also offering a self-defense measure to counterfeiters and customers who unknowingly purchase counterfeit goods. A QR code hidden under the bottle label allows customers to verify the authenticity of the product themselves.

China is taking steps to eliminate counterfeit goods that are tailored to the circumstances of each country, such as using holograms.

Balancing profitability and safety Accelerating expansion in various countries

According to a public relations representative, “Our thorough campaign to crack down on counterfeit goods in Indonesia is extremely important not only for protecting the safety of our customers and their beloved cars, but also from the perspective of contributing to our business, such as profitability.”

With Indonesia as a role model, the company plans to accelerate its expansion into other countries. With a resolute attitude and a strong network of partners, the company is taking a multi-faceted approach to reducing the damage caused by counterfeit products, and is continuing to protect the motorcycle life of riders who love Yamaha products.