What can Trade Mark owners do?

Measures available include establishing a network of Brand Protection Officers within affected markets. These are designed to:

· Share intelligence locally, regionally, and globally, including with law enforcement agencies.

· Detect, track, and trace counterfeit goods.

· Take action, country by country, and along the entire length of the counterfeit goods supply chain.

Trade Mark owners should also work with governments to:

  • Extend awareness and knowledge across government agencies.
  • Encourage serious engagement with business.
  • Correct legislative and enforcement shortcomings within countries and across trading blocs.
  • Provide practical trading and support.

How can Africa Matters Ltd help?

AML has the skills, knowledge and experience to assist in each of the areas listed above. Although our early anti-counterfeit work focused on markets in East Africa, we now have the capability to address the issue across the continent. We can:

  • Provide ad hoc and regular reports on the status of IPP legislation and anti-counterfeit activity in Africa (*).
  • Provide an anti-counterfeit audit service to identify risk areas and recommend corrective action based on global best practice (tailoring solutions to local needs & capabilities).
  • Raise political awareness of the negative impact of counterfeit goods.
  • Encourage African governments and regional bodies to implement stronger and coordinated IPP policy frameworks with penalties that deter illegal trade.
  • Assist companies set up and maximise the effectiveness of Brand Protection Networks.
  • Organise and facilitate anti-counterfeit workshops at country or regional level.
  • Provide awareness and knowledge training.
  • Provide a troubleshooting service to assist clients deal with ad hoc counterfeit issues.
  • * AML produces a monthly newsletter highlighting anti-counterfeit activities in Africa. If you would like to subscribe please email: research@africamatters.com. The fee is £25 per issue or £200 per annum.
  • To see our February 2010 eition please click here: http://www.africamatters.com/editorial.asp?page_id=233
  • The most recent edition is available to subscribers only.

AML Anti-Counterfeiting Newsletter - February 2010

  • Date: 16.03.2010
  • Format: pdf - 196kb