Anti Counterfeit Community

June 30th, 20

WASHINGTON, D.C – Attorney General Bob McDonnell held a press conference at 10 a.m., today to discuss Virginia’s recently-amended Trademark Anti-Counterfeiting Act which takes effect on July 1st. The new law was passed overwhelmingly by the House of Delegates and the Senate in March, and was signed into law by Governor Tim Kaine in early April.

The European Commission, together with 26 participating Member States of the European Union, and JT International (JTI) on 14 December 2007 announced a multi-year agreement that includes an efficient system to fight against future cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting. Through the Agreement, JTI will work with the European Commission, its anti-fraud office OLAF, and law enforcement authorities of the Member States to help in the fight against contraband, including the problem of counterfeit cigarettes. The Agreement includes substantial payments by JTI, which total USD 400 million over fifteen years.

Statistics just published by the European Commission relating to counterfeit and piracy show a significant increase in customs activity last year. In 2007, customs registered over 43,000 cases of fake goods seized at the EU's external border, compared to 37,000 in 2006. This results notably from improved cooperation between customs and industry, enabling customs to better target suspected shipments and to recognize counterfeit goods. Despite this, the number of articles seized decreased from last year's peak of 128 million articles to around 79 million. This is due to a growing number of seizures involving smaller quantities of counterfeit and pirated articles. However, cigarettes and clothing continue to be faked in large quantities and there has been a worrying increase in sectors that are potentially dangerous to consumers (medicines, electrical equipment, personal care products).
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two U.S. customs agents were arrested on charges they helped smuggle drugs and other contraband through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Customs supervisor Walter Golembiowski and officer John Ajello face narcotics, bribery and conspiracy charges in the case, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Golembiowski and Ajello regularly solicited and accepted bribes to allow contraband to pass through undetected, the DEA said.

Two airport workers and two others were also charged with importing counterfeit goods. Some of those items included Rolex, Cartier and Chanel watches and designer sunglasses, the DEA said. On several occasions, Golembiowski was captured on audio and video taking bribes to aid his co-conspirators in bringing in illegal drugs and counterfeit goods.

(CNN) -- A Paris court on Monday ordered Internet auctioneer eBay to pay $63 million in damages to Louis Vuitton for selling fake luxury goods online, according to reports.

The court also barred eBay from selling four perfume brands -- Christian Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlain, AFP reported.

eBay, the world's largest online auctioneer, said it would lodge an appeal and said the decision was not a victory for copyright law.

International Investors Association (YASED) relased press announcement;

 

Sustainability of international direct investment inflows carries significant importance in the global competition environment that prevails in our day, for the purpose of increasing greenfield investment, encouraging R&D intensity and innovations oriented on the supply of high value added goods and services, as the long-term and secure means of financing of the current account deficit that has amounted to USD 38 billion as of end-2007, and as a means to contribute employment that Turkey needs.