WIPO Hosts Global Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Meeting

GENEVA - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) hosted the Third Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy in Geneva, January 30-31, 2007.

A partnership between public and private sector organizations, the Congress is being convened by WIPO, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), under the banner "Shared Challenges-Common Goals."

According to a press release by WIPO, the Congress is held with the support and cooperation of the Global Business Leaders Alliance Against Counterfeiting (GBLAAC), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Security Management Association (ISMA).

The Global Congress provided a key international forum for shaping practical strategies to meet the shared challenges presented by the expanding global trade in counterfeit and pirated products.

The Congress was opened by Director General of WIPO, Dr. Kamil Idris, and the Federal Councilor of Switzerland in charge of Justice and Police Christoph Blocher. Keynote statements were also made by the heads of the convening organizations such as WCO Secretary General Michel Danet, Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble, ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban, President of INTA Dee Ann Weldon-Winston, as well as top government officials and key business leaders.

The first Global Congress was held in Brussels in 2004 which is the home of the WCO and the Second Global Congress in 2005 was held in Lyon where the Interpol is headquartered.