Seminar Highlights Importance of Protecting Intangible Assets

INTA representatives stressed the value of protecting intellectual property (IP) and raising awareness of counterfeit goods at a recent seminar hosted by the Chilean Industrial Property National Institute (INAPI).

The virtual event, titled “The Importance of the Protection of Intangible Assets,” was held on December 15, 2020, in the context of an ongoing bilateral cooperation against transnational crime between Chile and Peru. Representing INTA were Agustina Davis, INTA’s Associate, Latin America and the Caribbean, and INTA member Andrés Grunewaldt (Silva, Chile).

The event was directed mainly to owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and students from the cross-border area in the north of the country, but also included customs officers. The goal was to raise their level of knowledge of IP as well as about the risks of commercialization of counterfeit products and the importance of enforcement.

Ms. Davis introduced INTA’s key initiatives and described the Association’s work in the region. She provided an overview of the Pro Bono Clearinghouse, which expanded into Latin America last year to offer free legal assistance to qualified SMEs; and highlighted the Unreal Campaign, noting INTA’s 2019 partnership with Chile’s COMEDUC Foundation to educate high school students throughout the country about the dangers of counterfeit goods and the importance of IP. Through the partnership, INTA members presented the Unreal Campaign in five cities, reaching more than 3,000 students.

Ms. Davis’s presentation also covered the importance of IP as an intangible asset and how IP rights can boost business growth. She shared the different types of IP and how Chilean law protects each of them.

Mr. Grunewaldt focused on copyright and its regulation in Chile, as well as IP enforcement and border measures. In responding to questions from customs officers in attendance, he provided insight into what happens if the logos of a certain brand are not exactly like the registered logo, and whether customs can seize those products. He also discussed other aspects of trademark use, including what happens if an owner uses the trademark in ways other than how it is registered, or in a country where it is not registered.

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.