Anti-Counterfeiting 2009 World Trademark Review
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WTR A Global Guide Contact us at [email protected] for some real answers. Personal ID European Union Contributing firm Casalonga Avocats Authors pose a serious threat to the health of the designs, patents for biotechnological Caroline Casalonga and general population. Clothing and accessories inventions and certain aspects of copyright Karina Dimidjian-Lecomte have also shown a significant increase. and related rights have been harmonized. It In terms of overall quantities seized, China has also created the Community trademark remains the principal source of counterfeit (CTM), the Community design, the The latest figures published by the European products, with 79% of all articles seized Community-protected plant variety right Commission show that counterfeiting is a originating in China. In the pharmaceutical and Community-protected designations of growing phenomenon in the EU market. In sector, India and the United Arab Emirates origin and geographical indications. 2007 EU Customs seized more than 79 were the principal sources of counterfeit Discussions are also underway with regard million counterfeit and pirated goods and products (31% each), followed by China. to creating a Community patent. handled more anti-counterfeiting cases than Together, these three countries are the source The EU IP Rights Enforcement Directive ever before. A total of more than 43,000 cases of 80% of all counterfeit medicines seized. (2004/48/EC) harmonized the means of were dealt with in 2007, up nearly 17% from This chapter explains the simple steps enforcing IP rights in all EU member states. 2006. Compared to 2006, counterfeiting that all owners of IP rights in the European The objective of the directive is to ensure a increased in almost all product sectors. In Union should take in order to defend their high equivalent level of protection for IP addition to medicines, where counterfeiting rights effectively against counterfeiting and rights in all EU member states. increased by 51% compared to 2006, the piracy, in particular the filing of an Counterfeiting and piracy should be 264% increase in intercepted counterfeit application for action by customs punished effectively. The directive articles for personal care is a worrying trend. authorities in the 27 EU member states. approximates national laws with regard to: The statistics for 2006 showed an increase • evidence; of 70% over 2005 (to 128 million counterfeit Legal framework • provisional measures; and pirated articles seized) across most The legal framework for anti-counterfeiting • the calculation of damages; and industry sectors. This was particularly consists of both IP and customs statutes. • the reimbursement of legal fees. worrying for pharmaceutical products (up The European Union has harmonized 384% over 2005) and perfumes and cosmetics most national IP laws and created some The EU Customs Regulation (1383/2003) (up 141% over 2005), as these products can unitary rights at EU level. Trademarks, addresses customs action against goods www.WorldTrademarkReview.com Anti-counterfeiting 2009 – A Global Guide 27 Casalonga Avocats suspected of infringing certain IP rights and • Community-protected geographical Measures and actions by national the measures to be taken against goods designations for spirit drinks; or customs authorities found to have infringed such rights. This • Community-protected plant regulation introduced common rules to variety rights. Measures prior to an application for action prohibit the free circulation, import, export, Unfortunately, not all companies will protect re-export or entry of counterfeit and pirated For non-Community rights – that is, their intellectual property adequately by goods in the European Union. national, European or international rights systematically filing an application for The Customs Regulation is implemented (including national and international intervention with Customs. Nevertheless, the by Regulation 1891/2004, which provides: trademarks, European and national customs authorities can intervene on their • application forms for EU-wide and patents, copyright and related rights) – own initiative by suspending the release of national customs action; and the rights holder must file national suspected goods or detaining them for three • instructions on how to use the forms. customs applications for action with the working days, during which the rights holder relevant national customs may file a customs application in the relevant Both the national and EU-wide customs administration. country. If a declaration is not filed within applications and the procedure for the that period, the products will be released. detention of counterfeit goods by customs Filing an EU application have been harmonized in all the EU The second stage involves the rights holder Customs detention procedure pursuant to member states. There is no unified EU lodging a written EU application for action by an EU application customs entity, however. Rather, the Customs, asking the latter to seize the Customs may suspend the release of and national customs administrations of the 27 suspected goods. The advantage of the EU detain all products that appear to infringe member states: application for action is that a single the IP rights cited in the EU application. The • work together; application provides all designated EU customs authorities will inform the rights • are subject to common regulations; and customs authorities with: holder or its representative of the products • exchange information through a • a sufficiently detailed description of the detained. From the date on which the goods centralized information system. goods to which the IP right applies; and are detained, the rights holder has a non- • the particulars needed to contact the extendable 10-working-day period either to: However, EU customs practices still have rights holder at any time. • obtain an order, where applicable, that certain particularities in each member state. such goods be destroyed; or In addition, civil and criminal procedures In the application, the rights holder • initiate an infringement action before are different in each member state. indicates the Community IP rights the national court with jurisdiction. concerned and provides information on EU application for action by Customs the authentic goods, as well as any Customs will give the rights holder the The EU national customs administrations information that may help Customs to opportunity to inspect the suspected goods. have broad investigative and policing anti- determine whether the goods are genuine, When examining the goods, Customs may take counterfeiting powers, including the right to including: samples and, according to the rules in force in suspend release and to detain goods • a report on the differences between the member state concerned, hand them over suspected of infringing IP rights. They act authentic and infringing goods; or send them to the rights holder, at its express not only at the EU borders, but also across • information on the type of fraud; and request, for the purposes of analysis and to each member state. Any person transporting • the routes used by traffickers. facilitate the subsequent procedure. The products into or through the European samples should be returned on completion of Union must have documents evidencing the The rights holder must also agree: the technical analysis. In practice, in most genuine origin of such products. • to assume liability towards the persons cases, in order to save costs and accelerate the Before Customs can take any action subject to the seizure or destruction of procedure, customs officers take photos of the against alleged infringing products, the alleged infringing goods in the event suspected goods and forward them to the rights holder must have: that the procedure is discontinued rights holder for confirmation as to whether • obtained a Community IP right; and owing to an act or omission on its part, the products are counterfeit. • filed a written application for or if the products are subsequently Depending on national provisions on intervention by the customs authorities. found not to infringe IP rights; and the protection of personal data, the rights • to pay all costs incurred by keeping holder may request additional information IP registration goods under customs control, including on the origin, provenance and destination of The first condition for filing an EU application destruction costs. the suspected infringing goods. for action by the customs authorities is the If the rights holder takes no