Cooperation is key in the fight against counterfeiting
As in previous years, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, through the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) and the National Association for the Defence of Trademarks (ANDEMA), organised the events of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day in collaboration with the State Agency for Tax Administration (Customs Department) and the Spanish Security Forces.
This year, World Anti-Counterfeiting Day – held in 23 countries all over the world – was held on 2 June in the city of Vigo (Pontevedra) in recognition of the battle being waged against counterfeiting in the A Pedra market. The event, chaired by the Under-Secretary for Industry, Energy and Tourism, aimed to create awareness of the importance of public-private cooperation among institutions to eradicate the counterfeiting phenomenon. It also stressed that consumer responsibility is key for solving this problem. This was the context for presentation of the awareness campaign entitled “Don’t be an accomplice to counterfeiting”.
Actions to promote awareness
In addition to the press conference held in the headquarters of the Vigo Port Authority, during which the Spanish Security Forces and the Tax Agency (AEAT) revealed some of the main data on this phenomenon, the Vigo Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion panel involving public and private bodies, from Spain and elsewhere, to share good practices.
On this occasion, reports were given by national, regional and local authorities, the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and ANDEMA, all of which reflected the international scope of this problem.
Data on counterfeiting
During 2014, the Tax Agency confiscated more than three million counterfeit products in a total of 2,307 operations. If these had reached the market, they would have fetched 151.9 million euros. During these actions, 137 official reports were filed, and 124 people allegedly involved in this illegal activity were arrested. Of all the products seized, over half were taken in ports, and two out of every three false products seized came from the Asian continent.
The Spanish Security Forces and local police forces received information on 1,957 criminal infringements of Industrial Property rights in 2014. They arrested or charged 1,827 persons, and confiscated 1,692,952 articles valued at over 177 million euros.
The main sectors that the seized articles came from were clothing (36.6%), toys (8.5%), and leather goods and accessories (7.6%).
By region, Andalusia, Madrid, Catalonia and the Valencian Community were, yet again, the regions in which most operations were carried out in the fight against infringements of Industrial Property rights.
On a worldwide level, the proliferation of counterfeit goods is a problem that generates about 250 billion dollars a year. Apart from representing a serious risk for public health and safety, and its serious social and ethical consequences, this illegal trade constitutes a source of funding for criminal activities and for activities related to organised crime.
Share in Facebook
Share in Twitter
|
