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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Syria Fake Brands – Omer & Kajjo
HEADLINE: Fake Brands Flood Northeast Syria Markets
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 07/21/2023 AT 9:10AM
BYLINE: Zana Omer, Sirwan Kajjo
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington/Qamishli, Syria
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original | VOA Kurdish Service
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:02
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES :
((INTRO))
[[Syria’s 11-year conflict has created chaos across the country. But one odd and unique element of that chaos is an environment where fake international brands are widespread. VOA’s Zana Omer and Sirwan Kajjo have the story.]]
((NARRATOR))
This KFC restuarant looks just like any other franchise of the American fast food chain – except this one is located in Syria.
Its location in the war-torn country raises questions about the authenticity of this so-called branch of the world-famous brand.
VOA contacted the owner of this establishment in the city of Qamishli in northeast Syria. He said he has a license from the KFC company.
((NATS))
((Phone conversation in Arabic between VOA reporter and restaurant owner))
((NARRATOR))
But in an email response to VOA, a KFC spokesperson confirmed that the company does “not have an official franchise partner in Syria, therefore this is not a valid KFC restaurant.”
The last KFC branch in Syria reportedly shut down in 2013 after the outbreak of the country’s civil war. Since then, no American or Western branch companies have had an official presence in Syria, due to U.S. and Western sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
But the names of famous brand stores are everywhere, they’re just selling counterfeit products like these, that can be seen throughout the markets of northeast Syria.
The region is now under the control of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and the local administration says it’s working on laws to protect trademarks.
((Layla Ibrahim, Chamber of Commerce in North and East Syria)) ((Female in Kurdish))
“Business copyrights and trademarks for local companies are reserved. We grant them to people who apply, but unfortunately there is no trade law yet. We do have a draft bill but it needs to get passed by the local legislative council.”
((NARRATOR))
While brands like K-F-C may not be willing to take legal actions against the counterfeit stores, lawyers say the problem needs to be dealt with because consumers are being hurt… by receiving low quality products and in many cases paying more for them.
((With Zana Omer in Qamishli, Syria, Sirwan Kajjo, VOA NEWS – Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 21, 2023 09:52 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
