What’s the future for copyright protection as we leave the European Union? That was evaded by the Government minister speaking at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) annual intellectual property (IP) conference in London.
Baroness Neville Rolfe, Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property was the conference keynote speaker. On Brexit she said she couldn’t give an answer during negotiations: “But I know the importance of ensuring that IP rights are considered in Brexit and in any future trade agreements, and that IP is given appropriate recognition.” She added that ‘only an international approach can put an end to IP infringement’, singling out China and Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and India as sources of counterfeit goods. That said, she described Cheetham Hill in Manchester as ‘the counterfeit capital of Europe’. She spoke of ‘engaging with our partners around the world’. She summed up: “The Government is committed to tackling IP crime wherever it exists, whether in Manchester or Macau, whether online or on the street.”
As for how widespread such crime against businesses with brands – whether logos and other trademarks, or inventions or cultural output such as music and films – she said: “We have made it clear that IP crime leads to losses in tax and other receipts, supports organised crimes like people trafficking or drug trafficking, and it can also pose a physical threat to consumers with dangerous or faulty products made by the counterfeiters.” She admitted that too often UK consumers see IP crime as harmless, and convenient (whether fake phone covers sold by on-street traders, or illegal downloads). Hence a long-term goal to change public attitudes to IP crime.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe said: “The partnership between Government, law enforcement, and business has had a major impact on IP crime. Together we will continue to track down and dismantle criminal organisations and networks that profit illegally from the hard work of others.
“IP crime hurts consumers and businesses alike so I am fully supportive of the important work of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group helping businesses large and small tackle this issue. IP criminals across the country are already finding out how effective our collective efforts can be.”
As for what the UK Government is actually doing about it, the minister said that the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is developing ways to measure the damage IP crime does so as to know where to focus resources. On that score, the IPO is developing a case database with the Ministry of Justice, and working with the Home Office to create subcategories within fraud. A call for a national body capable of working across local authorities and other agencies, she described as ‘an interesting proposal’. She admitted that counterfeit goods are widely available to order online, pointing out that many such retailing sites have genuine companies paying for advertising space.
For the speech in full visit https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/baroness-neville-rolfes-speech-at-the-acg-ip-conference.
About the ACG
ACG represents more than 3000 brands affected by fake goods in the UK and delivers advice and contacts on all aspects of IP protection. Alison Statham, ACG’s Director of Operations said that the sale of illicit counterfeit goods was increasing year-on-year fuelled by online activity. She said: “Counterfeiting is a lucrative and extremely dangerous criminal activity and ACG is working with its members, the UK Government and law enforcement agencies to help shape effective deterrents and raise awareness.”
Image courtesy of the Home Office; a seizure of counterfeit cosmetics.
