CANCUN,
Mexico – More
than 800 delegates representing 80 countries met in Cancun from
1-3 December for the 5th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting
and Piracy.
Top government officials,
business leaders and senior law enforcement authorities meeting
in Cancun, Mexico urged national and international political and
business leaders to step up actions against counterfeiting and
piracy to help boost global economic recovery. The call for increased
action came at the close of the Fifth Global Congress on Combating
Counterfeiting and Piracy held in Cancun from 1-3 December.
The international event brought together
more than 800 delegates from 80 countries to share proposals for
disrupting and curbing the worldwide illicit trade in counterfeit
and pirated goods, identify more innovative and effective solutions
and build upon successful strategies already in place.
The Fifth Congress was hosted by INTERPOL
and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), with
support from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Chamber
of Commerce (ICC) through its Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting
and Piracy (BASCAP) initiative, the International Trademark Association
(INTA) and the International Security Management Association (ISMA).
The Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) presented updated data indicating that
international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods has increased
to more than US $250 billion, almost 2% of world trade, up from
US $200 billion reported in 2007. Other data released at the Congress
showed that economic losses from counterfeiting and piracy is
costing the economies of the G20 countries more than €100
billion, and putting 2.5 million legitimate jobs at risk. Another
report released at the Congress showed that 80% of consumers admit
they regularly buy fake or pirated products, with little remorse
or concern about the consequences of those purchases.
Speakers presented a range of new approaches
for more effectively combating counterfeiting and piracy through
enhanced co-operation and co-ordination and increased public and
political awareness of the issue. New perspectives on improving
legislation and enforcement measures to deter and punish those
involved in the domestic and international trade of counterfeit
and pirated goods, and the sale of these illicit products over
the Internet were also presented. An important new focus at the
Congress was the responsibility of third parties who knowingly
assist counterfeiters in the sale or distribution of fake and
pirated goods. These themes will be developed into a series of
key recommendations for specific actions that will be released
in January 2010.
"A recurring theme of this Congress
and a constant characteristic of counterfeiting and piracy is
the central role of transnational organized criminals," said
John Newton, responsible for INTERPOL's Intellectual Property
Rights programme. "They commit these crimes without a care
about the often deadly effect of products, including fake medical
products and dangerous electrical products, on unknowing consumers.
Fortunately another feature of the Congress was the clear determination
of law enforcement agencies and customs worldwide to consistently
target these criminals wherever they are."
“International leaders from the public
and private sectors and international agencies represented here
in Cancun have provided new and more effective strategies for
combating counterfeiting and piracy," said Jorge Amigo, IMPI
Director General. "As these leaders and others return to
the 80 countries represented at this Congress, we hope the spirit
of collaboration and cooperation that was so evident here, will
continue and lead to concrete actions that will reduce the threats
to consumers and our economy in Mexico, and around the world."
Yo Takagi, WIPO Assistant Director General,
representing WIPO Director General Francis Gurry at the event,
said that the Global Congress was an important forum for exchanging
views and experiences on the challenges presented by the global
trade in counterfeit and pirated goods. He underlined the critical
importance of international co-operation in identifying effective
actions to disrupt and curb this illegal trade. Mr. Takagi reaffirmed
WIPO’s commitment to a more inclusive, development-oriented
and balanced approach to promoting greater respect for IP rights
with a view to identifying solutions that make a difference.
WIPO will be the chair for the
Sixth Global Congress. WIPO announced it will be co-hosting this
event in Paris in February 2011 with the French National Institute
for Industrial Property (INPI).
“Consumers around the world, especially those from vulnerable
communities, expect the Congress to deliver tangible strategies
that will protect them from harm; the way forward reached by the
Congress which I have been following closely will, I am quite
certain, meet their expectations," said WCO Secretary General
Kunio Mikuriya. “Up-skilling the risk analysis and interception
techniques of Customs officials through effective capacity building
will assist the global Customs community to meet its commitment
to combating the cross-border trade in dangerous counterfeit goods
and fake medicines, and enhance implementation of the WTO TRIPS
Agreement," Mr. Mikuriya added.
David Benjamin, Co-Chair of BASCAP
and Senior Vice President Anti-Piracy - Universal Music Group,
emphasized that protecting intellectual property is an essential
part of attracting investment and job development. “This
Congress demonstrated that there is some momentum building in
terms of growing recognition that counterfeiting and piracy are
costing all of us tens of billions of dollars and millions of
jobs lost or at risk," he said. "However, we must now
build on this momentum and not let current economic pressures
detract from the important work that needs to be done."
Richard Heath, President of INTA
and Vice President of Unilever PLC, said it was evident from the
three days of discussions President of that much had already been
done to combat counterfeiting and piracy. He emphasized, however,
that more needed to be done at the global and local level. "From
an industry perspective, we need to not only continue, but increase
collaboration with each other and with governments to improve
enforcement, enhance legislation and educate and protect consumers
from the dangers of counterfeiting," he said . "INTA
stands ready to work with our industry colleagues and government
to effectively combat this growing problem."
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