Governments Unite Against Counterfeiting

NEW YORK, NY - The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced full support for the new multilateral agreement on Anti-Counterfeiting that is being negotiated by the United States, European institutions and European Union Member States, Switzerland, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Korea and Japan and may attract other countries committed to the protection of Intellectual Property (IP).

According to a press release by INTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty Agreement (ACTA) encourages countries to adopt a common perspective in the fight against the global crimes of counterfeiting and piracy.

To accomplish this goal, ACTA aims to increase international cooperation, identifying best practices with regard to enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and pledges support for improving the international legal framework to combat counterfeiting.

INTA has been working closely with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the European Commission to elevate the crime of counterfeiting and piracy, and to ratify tougher sanctions against those who commit these crimes.

This agreement signals progress in addressing the growing international threat of counterfeiting as a crime utilizing multiple bases of operations and underscores the need for practical improvements which result in regionally-similar penalties and multi-jurisdictional deterrence.