Groundbreaking Discussions Take Place to Help Strengthen Intellectual Property in Latin America

News provided by

International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition

Jun 23, 2016, 04:16 ET

MIAMI, June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Government officials from 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries, the intellectual property (IP) community, and international law enforcement agencies convened today at the Latin America Regional Brand Protection Summit. This groundbreaking event, which was organized by the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories), aimed to promote dialogue and solutions for strengthening IP protection in the region.

The two-day Summit featured remarks from high-level keynote speakers, thought-leading panel discussions, and networking sessions. Participants also had the unique opportunity to meet with officials from various Latin American countries to discuss aspects of their governments' IP enforcement and policies.

Prior to the Summit, Terry Brady, UL Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial and Legal Officer, said, "This event will help create awareness of the issues facing Latin America and will provide unsurpassed opportunities that will strengthen existing partnerships and establish new relationships – all critical components in defeating counterfeiting."

"Latin America, with its important role in international trade, is a key region in the fight against fakes. This Summit will provide all agencies—local and national—with effective strategies on keeping illegitimate products from entering and leaving the region's borders," Bob Barchiesi, IACC President said earlier.

Participating in the Summit discussions were law enforcement and policy officials representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, Jamaica, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uruguay.

Summit attendees also heard remarks from prominent keynote speakers including:

Daniel Ragsdale, Deputy Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
R. Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Mike Margain, Director General of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property
Leslie Caldwell, U.S. Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division
Jose Medina Romero, Deputy Attorney General of the Mexican Attorney General's Office
Philippa Scarlett, Deputy White House IP Enforcement Coordinator

Recent reports show that imports of counterfeit and pirated goods are worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2.5% of global imports[1]. Counterfeit goods are often made using cheap, substandard and dangerous components that endanger the health and safety of consumers.

About the IACC
The IACC (www.iacc.org) is a Washington, DC-based not for profit organization representing the interests of companies concerned with trademark counterfeiting and the related theft of intellectual property. The members of the IACC include many of the world's best-known brands across all product sectors. The IACC has played a leading role in the development of cross-industry voluntary agreements, to address the illicit trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods online, including its IACC MarketSafe and RogueBlock initiatives.

About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for more than 120 years. Our nearly 11,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, training and education services, visit http://www.UL.com.

[1] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Mapping the Economic Impact (2016).

SOURCE International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition