Protecting the integrity of a company’s brand, as well as the safety of the products bearing that brand-name, takes a well-orchestrated effort, one that in many instances is conducted by a team of experts that could include legal representatives, law enforcement as well as engineers or product experts. Trade associations such as the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) have made a concerted effort to help its members in the fight against counterfeit products by working with members of Congress to pass more stringent anti-counterfeiting legislation as well as establishing the AASA Brand Protection Council. For last week’s AMN Poll, we asked: Does your company have any in-house staff dedicated to protecting against counterfeiting and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations?

While we are pleased to report that 20 percent of AMN readers surveyed have dedicated in-house staff that are working to protect their brands against IPR violations and counterfeiting, sadly, that leaves 80 percent that don’t. Counterfeiting and IPR violations are a serious issue; not only do these violations damage the integrity of a brand, but in some situations counterfeit product can pose a safety threat as well. It’s also an economic issue. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, pirated products impact the global economy by approximately $213 billion each year.

THIS WEEK’S POLL

In his recent "President’s Perspective" column in the Summer 2009 issue of Network magazine, Automotive Distribution Network President Mike Lambert debated whether technicians working in the automotive repair industry should be licensed, just as many other professions require. What do you think: Should it be required that automotive technicians be licensed?

To cast your vote, simply CLICK HERE.