Consumer

A report suggests that governments globally lose about USD 1 billion each year due to the influx of counterfeits in the markets out of which roughly 1/5th constitutes of Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals and Packaged Food bought by the unwary consumers.* It goes without saying that such fake and spurious goods pose a serious threat to health and safety of millions. Rapid advancement in technology and liberalization of the Indian economy have created an idealmarket for the miscreants to misuse the existing brand values that have been cultivated and nurtured over the time. The swelling of counterfeit and pirated goods is a universal problem that requires vigorous collaboration between the Customs and right-holders. A well-organized and effectively enforced Intellectual Property infrastructure is essential to ensure the continuous stimulation of investment in innovation. Objective The right-holders are experiencing an ever growing increase in the inflow of counterfeits through the Indian borders which have created the need for conducting terminal training on detection and assessment of counterfeit/infringing goods. The most recent training was organized for Customs authorities in Bengaluru on 27th September 2017 which was presided over by the Learner Additional Commissioner of Customs Mr D. Anil and attended by approximately 30 Custom Officials including Appraisers, Superintendents, Examiners, Inspectors and other officers from the Air Cargo and Inland Container Depot, Bengaluru. While all the attending Officers shared an emphatic written feedback on the conclusion of the training, the learned Additional Commissioner shared his views on the overgrowing importance of IP enforcement via Customs and how adequate steps are required to prevent imports of any suspicious IPR infringing consignments. He also delved on the importance of the initiative taken by the right-holders to enhance the capacity of the customs officers in curtailing the penetration of fakes through the Indian territorial borders. Participants & Attendees Amongst the participating right-holders, there were popular brands like Apple, Nike, Coty, Procter & Gamble, Nivea, LVMH Watches (Tag Heuer, Hublot and Zenith), GHD (Good Hair Day), Limited Brands (Victoria’s Secret, La Senza, Pink, Henri Bendel and Bath & Body Works), Audemars Piguet, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, G-Star and Tom Ford Outcome The training aimed to streamline the IPR enforcement proceedings, increase the number of interdiction on account of IPR violations, equip the customs officers with the relevant contact points, identification tips and develop an intelligence against fakes based on the inputs shared by the right-holders.

Patent Strategies for Entrepreneurs and MSME’s. Issues and Challenges for MSME’s for patenting in India by MHRD IPR, University of Delhi. Opportunities available for Indian Firms to do business in ASEAN presented by Mr. Ramesh Kodammal, President , ASEAN Business Council. IP Commercialization Strategies for Entrepreneurs and MSME’s.

With the advent of favorable investment options, the government’s “Make in India” campaign and persistent demand for consumer goods, India has become a popular destination for investors and right-holders of global brands. However, the issue of counterfeiting/infringement remains a common concern to all the right-holders as its impact cuts across various sectors affecting the revenue, health and employment of people at large. The right holders are experiencing a very strong undercurrent of the influx of counterfeits through the Indian territorial borders amongst other ways through which infringers operate. Objective In order to sensitize the Indian Enforcement and Intelligence Directorate on the IPR protection and enforcement at the territorial borders, United IPR conducted trainings on 31st January and 2nd February, 2017 with the officers of Tughlakabad Customs Port (Delhi) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI, Mumbai) respectively. Both these trainings saw active engagement by a consortium of globally well known brands which included Apple, Beats, L’Oreal, Garnier, Maybelline, Nivea, Nike, Proctor & Gamble, Bvlgari, Monster Energy, Skullcandy, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Coty (Calvin Klein, Davidoff, Joop!, Chloe) and Lacoste.Similar trainings in the past have proved effective for smooth functioning of IPR Rules and on bridging the gap between the right-holders and government officials responsible for IPR enforcement in India. Participants & Attendees The training in New Delhi was presided over by Shri R. N. Shrivastava, Commissioner of Customs (Import), while the training in Mumbai was headed by Shri M. Ajit Kumar, Principal Additional Director of General, DRI – Mumbai. With 45 officers in Delhi and 70 in Mumbai, both the trainings witnessed vigour and enthusiasm by the department that attended the training with intent to understand the functioning of IPR enforcement and of the product identification techniques of participating brands.

Objective The National conference on Intellectual Property Rights was organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a focus to share the insights of various stake holders on diverse issues on Intellectual Property. Participants & Attendees The conference witnessed participation from various stakeholders including Academic & Industrial Researchers, Practicing engineers, Individual Inventors, Entrepreneurs with knowledge intensive product/ service offerings , Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME), Startups, Students of Sciences, engineering, Pharma, medicine, law and allied disciplines. Mr. Sudarshan Kumar Bansal (Senior Partner), United IPR was keynote speaker on the session and addressed issues with respect to IP Infringement and Enforcement.

Objective In its enduring effort to curtail the mammoth trade of counterfeiting and piracy, especially in connection with goods related to health and safety, the World Customs Organization in cooperation with the Japan Customs Cooperation Fund has concluded yet another effective capacity building measure with the Asia Pacific Custom Administrations in Bangkok, Thailand from 15th – 17th November 2016. Participants & Attendees The training focused on inter-alia, anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy laws, having a dedicated session reserved for the right-holders across a wide spectrum of consumer goods, including Nike, Michael Kors, Canon, Eli Lilly, Philip Morris International, Mahle, Kering Group (Puma, Gucci and Yves saint Laurent), Authentic Brands Group (Aeropostale & Juicy Couture) and Limited Brands (Victoria’s Secret, La Senza, Bath & Body Works and Henry Bendel). United IPR availed the privilege to represent some of the aforementioned right-holders at the training, which was conducted in a very unique format – the Custom Officers were divided into small groups so that the right-holders could engage in a personalised and dedicated interaction.

Objective Sri Lanka being on the southernmost tip of the Indian Sub Continent is a key destination for trade and commerce in the South Asian region. The recognition with well-known global brands and their awareness on the quality of goods in the nation has resulted a rise in consumption of branded goods which has in due course of time given rise to counterfeiting activities and thus resulted in import as well as manufacture of counterfeit products of some of the globally renowned brands. Participants & Attendees The affect of counterfeiting activities have a far reaching impact on not only the consumers and the right-holders, but also on the government and the society at large. In order to propagate the importance of IPR enforcement in the region, United IPR in cooperation with the right-holders that included Apple, L’Oreal, Nike and Charles & Keith organized training with the Sri Lankan Customs on 26th October 2016 at their office in Colombo. The training was targeted to bridge the gap between the industry and the Custom authorities for optimal enforcement at the ports. The training was spearheaded by the Learned Deputy Superintendent of Customs Mr. Ashraf Samsudeen and attended by several other Custom Superintendents. Outcome During the training, the Sri Lankan Customs, who can suo motu interdict and seize any suspicious consignment either imported into or exported out of Sri Lanka, have assured of their complete cooperation to the right-holders in preventing the entry/exit of any counterfeit or infringing goods from its territorial borders. In addition, Sri Lanka acts as a central point for the transit of goods due to its strategic location in the South Asian region and has well developed IPR laws also for in-transit goods. Such trainings would therefore lead to optimization of interception and seizure of counterfeit goods.