INTA Hosts Policy Dialogue on Anticounterfeiting and Unfair Competition in Kazakhstan

On September 24, INTA partnered with member firm Bolotov & Partners to host a roundtable in Almaty, Kazakhstan, entitled Anticounterfeiting and Unfair Competition in Kazakhstan and Central Asian Countries. The event gathered professionals and experts from more than 15 jurisdictions. They shared their practice of combating counterfeiting in their respective jurisdictions, gave proposals for anticounterfeiting amendments, and shared examples of their efforts in the fight against counterfeit goods.

The wide-ranging discussion covered several key topics in the region, including combating illegal circulation of industrial products, protecting the market from counterfeits, and how brand owners are commercializing their marks. The event provided an opportunity for an open dialogue between representatives from online marketplaces and brand owners to discuss such key topics as identifying who is responsible for the sale of counterfeit goods on online marketplaces, how to fight it, and how it should be regulated and prosecuted.

Entrepreneurs from a variety of economic sectors made presentations and expressed their concern about the increasing supply of counterfeit goods online and offline. They discussed how the proliferation of counterfeit goods can harm governments, businesses, and consumers through lost tax revenue, unfair competition, and the sale of potentially harmful goods.

The participants agreed that it is necessary to establish direct links between various institutions and market participants. The discussion covered how legitimate businesses can actively cooperate with government agencies in terms of communicating information about the detection of unfair competition and other illegal actions that they identify in the course of market monitoring. The policy dialogue was the second on the subject held in the region. It contributed to furthering the Association’s engagement with local authorities and brand owners.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

© 2024 International Trademark Association