When purchasing sports equipment for your child or a branded apparel item for yourself, have you ever worried about buying counterfeit products? The global economic loss due to counterfeit goods amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars annually, posing a severe threat to consumer rights and brand reputation. To tackle this persistent issue more effectively, the World Customs Organization (WCO) is actively pursuing international collaboration to build a robust defense.
At the 7th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, held from April 24 to 26, 2013, in Istanbul, Turkey, the WCO signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), marking a significant step forward in its fight against counterfeit goods. These agreements aim to strengthen synergy with industry associations through closer cooperation and joint actions to address the escalating problem of counterfeit products.
Partners and Objectives
The WCO's collaboration involves:
- Sports Goods Industry: MOUs were signed with the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), the Brazilian Sporting Goods Association (MOVE), and the Russian Association of Sporting Goods Industry Enterprises (RASIE). These associations represent key global sports markets, and partnering with them will help customs authorities more accurately identify and seize counterfeit sports products, safeguarding consumer health and safety while protecting legitimate businesses.
- Brand Protection Association: An MOU was signed with Spain’s National Association for Brand Protection (ANDEMA). With extensive expertise in brand protection, ANDEMA will provide customs with improved methods for brand identification and infringement assessment, enhancing precision in combating counterfeit goods.
- Turkish Business Community: An MOU was signed with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the country’s largest business organization. This partnership will enable the WCO to better understand counterfeit trade dynamics in Turkey and strengthen engagement with local businesses to jointly combat illicit goods.
Core Focus: Information Sharing and Capacity Building
The MOUs emphasize:
- Recognition of collaborative efforts: The agreements acknowledge the contributions of partner organizations in combating counterfeit goods, laying a foundation for future cooperation.
- Promotion of the IPM Platform: The Intellectual Property Member Interface (IPM), developed by the WCO, facilitates direct collaboration between customs and private entities by enhancing information exchange and improving counterfeit detection capabilities. The MOUs encourage wider adoption of IPM, urging businesses to share brand details, product characteristics, and authentication methods to aid customs officials.
- Enhanced training and intelligence-sharing: Partners will exchange best practices in counterfeit identification and seizure while providing specialized training to customs personnel to improve their operational effectiveness.
The IPM Platform: A Critical Tool
The IPM serves as a dedicated online platform for customs and rights holders to communicate directly. Through IPM, brands can submit detailed product information—including images, descriptions, and authentication techniques—enabling customs to detect counterfeit goods more efficiently.
Additionally, IPM functions as a knowledge hub where customs and rights holders share trends, case studies, and risk alerts, ensuring coordinated responses to emerging threats.
A Global Forum for Action
The 7th Global Congress, co-hosted by INTERPOL, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC/BASCAP), and the International Trademark Association (INTA), brought together government officials, customs experts, corporate representatives, and academics to strategize against counterfeiting and piracy.
Attendees shared insights on innovative enforcement methods and explored ways to strengthen international cooperation against this transnational challenge. The event also showcased cutting-edge technologies to support anti-counterfeiting efforts.
The Global Impact of Counterfeiting
Counterfeit goods harm brand owners and endanger consumers. Often substandard and unsafe, these products may pose health risks while undermining market integrity and innovation.
Effective solutions require multilateral action: governments must enforce stricter regulations, customs agencies need to bolster inspections, businesses should prioritize brand protection, and consumers must remain vigilant against counterfeit purchases.
Moving Forward: Unified Global Efforts
The WCO’s MOUs represent a pivotal advancement in anti-counterfeiting strategy. By fostering international partnerships, improving intelligence-sharing, and upskilling customs personnel, stakeholders can more effectively protect consumers and uphold fair markets.
The WCO remains committed to innovating enforcement approaches and expanding collaboration to ensure a safer global marketplace.