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Delegates hear details of INTERPOL's International Intellectual Property crime (DIIP) from Secretary General Noble (© WIPO)

The Third Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO), aims to identify further areas of co-operation between the public and private sectors.

Supported by the Global Business Leaders Alliance Against Counterfeiting (GBLAAC), the International Trademark Association, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Security Management Association, the theme of the two-day meeting is ‘Shared Challenges – Common Goals.’

‘We have said many times that is only through united efforts by both the public and private sectors that real successes in combating counterfeiting and piracy can be achieved,’ said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

‘INTERPOL’s new database on international intellectual property crime will take this co-operation to a new level by making information provided by private companies available to law enforcement worldwide to assist their investigations into those involved in counterfeiting.’

More than 1,100 delegates from 102 countries have been brought together for the congress, which was welcomed by WIPO Director General Dr Kamil Idris as ‘an important step in developing the networks and harnessing the collective expertise necessary to develop durable solutions to this all-pervasive problem.’

‘The scourge of counterfeiting has assumed epidemic proportions. Counterfeiters and pirates are thwarting economic development and endangering health and safety, with their crimes claiming victims every day,' Dr Idris added.

Michel Danet, WCO Secretary General, also encouraged greater global co-operation to target all parties involved, from consumers to the counterfeiters.

‘Through our collective efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy, we will, I firmly believe, engender a sense of responsibility and mobilise support against this empire of fraud, illusion and deceit which places human lives at risk and wrecks initiatives to promote economic and social prosperity,’ said Mr Danet.

Representatives of government and inter-governmental organizations emphasised the importance of joint public and private sector partnerships, which was echoed by top business leaders attending the congress.

‘Many excellent approaches have been introduced, but more resources and support are needed to ensure their effectiveness. The demand for counterfeit goods must also be addressed by focusing greater attention on consumer education and effective ways to discourage consumers and businesses from knowingly purchasing such products,’ said Gerd T. Becht, Vice President and General Counsel of DaimlerChrysler, representing GBLAAC.

The two previous global congresses were held in Brussels in 2004 and Lyon, France, in 2005. More information about the Third Global Congress, including the programme and list of speakers, is available at www.ccapcongress.net