As the world meets in Jeddah to discuss global threat of counterfeit products, illegal organizations in other parts of the world are busy working to flood the market with pirated and counterfeit products from DVDs to pharmaceuticals, said Todd Reeves in his speech ‘Scope of the Global Challenge in Combating Trade in Counterfeits' Monday within the activities of the First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum held in Jeddah. Reflecting on his expertise from the Office of Intellectual Property Policy and Enforcement, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Reeves said only a showcase of different serious anti-counterfeiting measures would help curb this illegal growing industry and its associated dangers. And it is not too late at this point to fight counterfeiting industry which is responsible for about 7 percent of the world's goods, he said. Counterfeiters could put a company in misery. Microsoft stands as a good example. Ali Faramawi, area vice president of Microsoft Middle East and Africa, said that more than 4,000 information and hi-tech companies in the Middle East will lose business if piracy is not curbed. Piracy in the Middle East has surged to 70 percent, he said. And this comes with a reason. Poverty and low income have fueled this problem worldwide, especially in third world countries, Reeves said. With this industry growing fatter, brand name companies losing business to counterfeiting slashed their prices in a step to both fight counterfeiters and to make their original products more affordable to customers, he said. The International Intellectual Property Alliance conservatively estimated that total losses due to piracy were at least $30-35 billion in 2007. The business, in fact, is so lucrative that it would attract more illegal activities, said Christopher Zimmerman, a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO), in the forum Monday. If no serious anti-counterfeiting measures are taken, the counterfeit industry will proliferate worldwide, he added. Countries should closely monitor their borders and entry points to stop the flow of bogus products, he said, emphasizing on sincere efforts and tangible steps to combat the counterfeit industry. In the European Union and United States, trademark owners are allowed to register their trademarks with border officials. Their laws authorize customs officers to inspect goods with those trademarks to see if they are counterfeit.Brand owners train customs officials as to what to look for to spot a bogus product. – Okaz __
