INTA Discusses Using Technology in Anticounterfeiting with Italian Patent and Trademark Office

The Anticounterfeiting-Western Europe Subcommittee organized a policy dialogue in Rome on February 28, at the office of the Directorate General for Combating Counterfeiting – Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM). The discussion focused on topics ranging from the latest technologies available in the field to the level of public awareness on counterfeiting. The event engendered active participation and lively information sharing from all attendees.

Kicking off the dialogue, Western Europe Subcommittee member Davide Bresner (Bresner Cammareri Intellectual Property, Italy) provided opening remarks on the current state of counterfeiting, setting the stage for the rest of the workshop discussions.

Following this introduction, Simona Marzetti (UIBM, Italy) gave an overview of UIBM’s activities, underlining the crucial role of the public authorities involved in fighting counterfeit trades on a daily basis. Thomas Rossi (Eonpass, Italy) continued the dialogue, describing his experience at the “Anti-counterfeiting Blockathon Forum,” the first-ever anticounterfeiting blockchain competition held in Europe, co-organized by the European Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Mr. Rossi, whose project took first place in the competition, explained how blockchain technology can be useful in the fight against counterfeiters and how it could assist companies and local authorities in tracing original and counterfeit goods.

Alessandro Farris (Luxottica, Italy) next spoke about anticounterfeiting enforcement from the perspective of a rights holder, and gave an overview of the main activities carried out by a multi-brand market leader to protect its trademarks.

Finally, Laurence Morel-Chevillet, Western Europe Subcommittee member (Bulgari, Italy), led a discussion on raising awareness about counterfeiting. She also highlighted INTA’s Unreal Campaign, a consumer awareness initiative aimed at educating teens on the harms of counterfeit products and the value of trademarks and related IP. The dialogue concluded with attendees discussing next steps in raising awareness of related IP issues.

The Western Europe Subcommittee looks forward to continuing activities in Italy and the region for the remainder of the term, and extends its thanks to Ms. Marzetti and the UIBM for their continued support.

Important Dates to Remember:

At INTA’s 2019 Annual Meeting, which will take place in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, May 18-22, 2019, in-house practitioners and government officials will have the opportunity to work together in a closed-door environment, sharing their perspectives, discussing lessons learned and best practices, and exploring ways to enhance collaboration and cooperation. Find out more about the Anticounterfeiting Workshop: Combating Counterfeiting: Online and Offline, and register here.

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