Counterfeits, knockoffs, and why we are members of INTA. The International Trademark Association (“INTA”) is the worldwide trademark association that has been instrumental in framing how every country in the world communicates on trademarks, infringement, and brand enforcement. As members, we attend the Annual Conference which brings together 11,000 trademark attorneys from all over the world. Lately, a hot topic has been how to prevent trademark counterfeiting.
Companies around the world experience the same nightmare. According to the Better Business Bureau, a quarter of the purchases people make online are fake, costing the US economy more than $200 billion. Other countries’ economies have also taken a hit, and many say China is largely to blame. “Counterfeiting by Chinese criminal gangs is a far larger problem than most people recognize,” says Barry Elliott, a senior fraud investigator with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “But concerted efforts against the credit card processing network that funds them can make a real difference.”
According to a study from the INTA released May 16, half of all – the youngest buying generation – “Gen Z” are against buying counterfeit items, but the price is often a deciding factor at the cash register. No matter the morals of Gen Zs who tend to make idealistic decisions, the study found that practicalities ultimately took over for moral ideals.
Little is required for infringers to order a product on e.g. Amazon and then mirror the product design and brand. There are also a plethora of hackers, sometimes masking as employees, who slip into a company’s computer network to steal data. Including company trade secrets or product designs.
OUR PARTICIPATION IN INTA HELPS US IN BRAND ENFORCEMENT
As Anti Counterfeit Lawyers, we are active members of INTA because there are members from 190 countries working to protect the trademarks of businesses worldwide. With so many advocates for trademark protection. The group is essentially a worldwide network protecting businesses from counterfeiting, in a similar – but perhaps more effective – approach to cybersecurity.
Not only do we learn a lot working alongside the 30,000 member attorneys of INTA, we use the INTA standards of trademark practice as a framework for our practices. Trademark policies are complex, and our firm covers a wide range of issues under that umbrella, from Amazon trademarks – a landscape that brings with it many potential landmines as products on the sales platform can be similar or outright counterfeit – to broad analysis and protection of our client’s intellectual property.
Not only do we learn a lot working alongside the 30,000 member attorneys of INTA, we use the INTA standards of trademark practice as a framework for our practices. Trademark policies are complex, and our firm covers a wide range of issues under that umbrella, from Amazon trademarks – a landscape that brings with it many potential landmines as products on the sales platform can be similar or outright counterfeit – to broad analysis and protection of our client’s intellectual property.
Contact EmergeCounsel
We learn best practices and make amazing connections from our participation in INTA. If you have issues with product knockoffs or have other intellectual property needs, the team at EmergeCounsel can help guide you. Please contact us today at 888-EMERGE-0 to find out how we can help you with your legal needs.