This happened in May 2007

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FOREST GROVE, Ore. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection faxed a letter to Mike Korpi of Forest Grove Wednesday, canceling a $55,300 fine they originally served him for purchasing eight fake Rolex watches in China.

Korpi says the watches were gifts for his grandchildren, and he paid about $14 for them while on vacation earlier this year.

A customs spokeswoman tells KATU News they have looked into Mike Korpi's case. After consulting with airport authorities, they have concluded Korpi is not a seller or a repeat offender.

Regardless, companies like Oregon's Nike say they are the victim of knock-off retailers and there is no excuse for anyone to sell or buy counterfeit products.

Nike Spokesman Bob Applegate says, "You may be able to copy the look of the shoe, but you can't copy the performance."

There are many people trying to capitalize on Nike's innovation, but Korpi says he had no such plans when he purchased his trinkets.

Intellectual property attorney Peter Heuser says it is strange Korpi was flagged in the first place.

"We've seen individuals getting nailed, but not anything like this," Heuser told KATU News. "We see seizures and penalties for commercial sellers, but we don't see penalties for somebody bringing watches for his grandchildren."

Nike won't make any judgments on this particular case, but in general Applegate says, "I think the message is counterfeiting is theft. Large scale or small scale-- it's still theft."

The big question on many minds is whether the government is trying to make an example out of Korpi's purchase in China.

"Everybody does it. Everybody that goes there buys (a fake Rolex)," Korpi said Tuesday night.

"I suppose it might be an attempt to make him an example," Heuser said. "Yeah, I suppose he shouldn't have done it, but there's a procedure to give him relief. He's not going to get nailed with $55,000."

On Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Korpi his case is now closed.