Produced by National Geographic in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commece, "Illicit: The Dark Trade" is based on the bestselling book by Dr. Moisés Naím, exposing the criminal networks behind the multi-billion dollar global trade of illicit goods.   The documentary won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Graphic Design & Art Direction" and was also nominated for "Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form."  To learn more, please visit www.shopngvideos.com.

Fake goods are proliferating, to the dismay of companies and governments

IMITATION is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, but that is not how most brands see it. On March 1st Philip Morris, a tobacco giant, sued eight American retailers for selling counterfeit versions of its Marlboro cigarettes. Thanks to the rise of the internet and of extended international supply chains, and more recently, to the global economic downturn, counterfeit goods are everywhere. Fake Porsches and Ferraris zoom along the streets of Bangkok. A German bank has discovered an ersatz gold ingot made of tungsten in its reserves, according to a German television channel investigating persistent reports that many of the world’s financial institutions have been similarly hoodwinked.

Counterfeit high-tech products that are flooding global markets have devastating effects not only for brand owners, but the economy.

Consider these statistics: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that intellectual property theft costs domestic businesses $200 billion to $250 billion a year in lost revenue, and has resulted in a loss of 750,000 jobs in the U.S. alone. In 2003, the Business Software Alliance estimated that a mere 10% reduction in software piracy could add $400 billion to the lawful, taxable, global economy. In turn, this would lead to the generation of over 1.5 million jobs, as well as $64 billion in additional taxes.

Yet it would be a mistake to discuss the cost of counterfeiting merely in economic and financial terms. Fake technology also presents big safety risks.

Just last week, the Senate confirmed Victoria Espinel as the first-ever U.S. intellectual property enforcement coordinator. This position was created by the bipartisan PRO-IP Act, which became law last year, and assigned the heavy task of improving enforcement and promoting intellectual property rights in the United States and abroad.

This position carries great historical as well as political significance, and it is the result of forward-looking leaders who recognized the increasing importance intellectual property plays in America’s competitiveness and economic growth. Strong and enforced IP rights not only incentivize and protect the innovation and creativity that drive human progress, they also provide the legal framework under which these “creations of the mind” are shared with others to advance our common knowledge.

Congress and the Obama administration have shown a clear willingness to defend and promote IP rights around the world.

The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) Bi-Monthly Meeting, will be held on Thursday, April 23rd from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST in the Herman Lay room at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062). Non-members are welcome to attend and learn more about coalition activities. Please note - this meeting is closed press.

This is a registered event. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

If you plan to dial in to the meeting by phone, the number and passcode are as follows:

Phone number: 1-866-751-5725
Pass Code: *3006178*  

If you have any trouble dialing in, please call (202) 463-5601 for assistance.

The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition is pleased to announce the 2009 Annual Spring Conference in Seattle, Washington, to take place May 13-15. Co-Chairs include: Bonnie MacNaughton, Senior Attorney, Microsoft, Inc.; John Cotter, Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, LLP; and, Theresa Mock, Director of Marketing, OpSec Security, Inc.

Click here to learn more about the conference or to register.

About the International AntiCounterfeiting Coaltion:

The International Trademark Association's (INTA's) Annual Meeting is the one must-attend event in the intellectual property field, and the 2009 Annual Meeting in Seattle is set to be the best yet. Over the course of five days, there will be continuous opportunities for networking, education and professional development, as well as committee meetings and exhibits. The three days of educational programs include valuable skill-building workshops, industry breakouts and trademark law sessions focused on international topics, as well as table topics during breakfast and lunch. Be sure to visit the exhibition hall, with more than 90 exhibitors featuring new products and cutting-edge demonstrations. The schedule is packed with networking opportunities, making the INTA Annual Meeting the only place where you can meet with thousands of your colleagues and stay current on trademark developments.

Click here to learn more

The Fifth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy will be held in Cancun, Mexico on 2-4 June. The 2009 event is co-hosted by INTERPOL and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) in partnership with the Global Congress Steering Group member organizations.

This Fifth Global Congress is critically important as it takes place during what is likely to be a sustained period of economic crisis. At a time of retrenchment, the social and economic losses associated with counterfeiting and piracy challenge us to work harder still and build on the success all stakeholders have derived from the Global Congress process since it started in 2004.

The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) Bi-Monthly Meeting, will be held on Monday, June 25th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST in the Herman Lay room at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062). Non-members are welcome to attend and learn more about coalition activities. Please note - this meeting is closed press.

More information to follow via email. Contact Natalie Ethridge with any questions.

Click here to learn more about the CACP

The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) Bi-Monthly Meeting, will be held on Friday, October 9th from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST in the Herman Lay room at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062). Non-members are welcome to attend and learn more about coalition activities. Please note - this meeting is closed press.