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World Anti-Counterfeiting Day in Algeciras

This year, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO), together with the Association for the Defence of Trademarks (ANDEMA), commemorated World Anti-Counterfeiting Day in Algeciras Bay port and in the Campo de Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. At the latter, a meeting on “the risks of counterfeiting” was held.

The meeting brought together, for the first time, authorities from Spain, Europe (through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights) and Morocco (Moroccan Office for Industrial and Commercial Property), who discussed this matter of international importance that is becoming a matter of social alarm.

The event
The meeting was opened by the Spanish Under-Secretary for Industry, Energy and Tourism, Enrique Hernández Bento, who stressed the serious consequences of buying counterfeit products for the health and safety of citizens and for the economy. This phenomenon also leads to the destruction of thousands of jobs by forcing companies to close when they have the potential to generate innovations in our business fabric.

During the press conference, annual data from the Spanish police forces and the Tax Office (AEAT) were given:

  • During 2013, in 2,300 operations the Tax Office confiscated over 2 million counterfeit products with a market value of 231 million euros. 67% of the counterfeit goods came from Asia and 31% from Africa.
  • The Police Forces obtained information on 2,434 facts and arrested or charged 2,155 people for criminal activities against Industrial Property rights in 2013. 5,094,879 objects valued at over 812 million euros were seized.
  • Toys, textiles (clothing and footwear), accessories, glasses, electronic goods and perfumery and cosmetics are the sectors most affected.  

Subsequently, at the AEAT warehouse in Algeciras harbour, counterfeit goods confiscated by the Customs authorities were displayed.



Measures taken
At the meeting, the Director General of the SPTO, Patricia García-Escudero, presented the new actions and tools being used by the SPTO in the fight against counterfeiting. These included the new portal ‘Yo Soy Original’ where the full extent of the counterfeiting phenomenon is explained, solutions are suggested and viral campaigns are proposed to create greater awareness of the problem.

During the panel discussion, the value of Industrial Property rights was explained, as well as the negative impact of counterfeiting on the business fabric as well as for the health and safety of citizens.

For further information, click here.

 

World Anti-Counterfeiting Day in Algeciras
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