Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement Bill Passes Senate
From AAIA Capital Report WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed by voice vote Sept. 26 legislation aimed at improving anti-counterfeiting enforcement. Similar to legislation passed by the House last May, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008 (S. 3325) would eliminate the registration requirement for a copyright work before criminal infringement lawsuit
Queens Auto Parts Dealer Convicted of Trademark Counterfeiting
Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced that a Long Island City wholesale auto parts dealer has been convicted of trademark counterfeiting for dealing in counterfeit Ford auto parts that were packaged, labeled and distributed as Ford manufacturer-quality replacement parts. District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Mordekhay Levy, 43, of 455 Hungry Harbor Road in North Woodmere, Long Island. Levy, the owner of Black and Yellow Auto Parts Inc., located at 5-35 54th Avenue in Long Island City, was convicted of two counts of second-degree trademark counterfeiting. Justice Arthur J. Cooperman, who presided at the eight-day jury trial, set sentencing for June 27. The defendant faces up to four years in prison on each count.
Anti-Counterfeiting Legislation Passes House
On May 8, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s anti-counterfeiting efforts. The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming 410-11 vote. The National Association of Manufacturers called the passage of H.R. 4279 "welcome news for consumers, manufacturers and workers alike. Counterfeiting often poses serious health and safety risks to the general public through sub-standard pirated products, including automobile parts, airplane parts, food medical devices, electrical supplies and pharmaceuticals."
International Automotive Supplier Associations Announce Cooperative Effort to Fight Counterfeiting, IPR Violations
Several leading international automotive parts supplier associations have issued a statement of cooperation to join together to combat the counterfeiting and intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in the global automotive industry. Representatives of CLEPA, the European association of automotive suppliers; the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA); and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), which represents North American motor vehicle parts suppliers, recently met to discuss the issue of counterfeiting and IPR and release the joint statement.
House Introduces Tougher Anti-Counterfeiting Legislation
From AAIA Capital Report House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI); ranking member Lamar Smith, (R-TX); and Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Chairman Howard Berman, (D-CA), have introduced anti-counterfeiting legislation (H.R. 4279) that has won immediate praise from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The bill was introduced to tackle the problems
U.S. Looking at Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with Trade Partners
From AAIA’s Capital Report WASHINGTON — During a press conference on Capitol Hill, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced that the U.S. and several key trading partners are looking to negotiate a trade agreement to strengthen the worldwide fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland
ABRO Industries Testifies to Congress on Counterfeiting
WASHINGTON, DC – Peter Baranay, president of ABRO Industries in South Bend, IN, testified on intellectual property piracy in China before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Trade on Feb. 15 in Washington D.C. Baranay, testifying on behalf of MEMA’s Brand Protection Council, spoke on the council’s legal battle with Chinese companies that have perpetrated
U.S. Chamber, Coalition Issue Best Practices on How Companies Can Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy this week released recommendations on steps companies can take to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters and modern-day pirates. The Chamber’s new “No Trade in Fakes Supply Chain Tool Kit: Protecting Businesses, Consumers, and Brand Integrity,” includes best practice guidelines and seven case studies of companies that devised and implemented aggressive techniques to fight counterfeiting and piracy and protect themselves and their customers.
New Research Shows IPR Laws Could Help Reduce Counterfeiting in Chinese Auto Industry
With the number of joint ventures between local and global automotive manufacturers escalating, there has been a corresponding rise in the risk of counterfeiting, according to new research from Frost & Sullivan. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, titled “Counterfeiting in the Total Chinese Automotive Industry,” reveals that the counterfeit vehicle parts and components market in China earned revenue of $11.53 billion in 2004 and could reach $44.74 billion in 2011.
Bush Signs the ‘Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act’
President George Bush yesterday signed into law the “Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act,” attended by representatives of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and other industry groups. The bill was introduced by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) at the beginning of the 109th Congress with the support of MEMA and other industry associations that helped craft the bill and worked for its passage. It passed in the House on March 7 and the Senate on Feb. 15.