Responding to the threat

Combating counterfeiting and piracy is a priority for the WCO and its Members. To assist its 171 Members to combat counterfeiting and piracy more effectively, the Council adopted a number of new initiatives, both legislative and operational, in the shape of two important instruments: the SECURE (Standards Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement) Program and an Action Plan. These two new tools, which are in no way mandatory and will be implemented on a voluntary basis, will lay the foundation for the WCO’s rolling anti-counterfeiting and piracy efforts.

Protecting consumer health and safety is a vital mission for Customs administrations across the globe and it is important that WCO Members equip themselves with new laws and enhanced operational instruments offering practical responses which are commensurate with the risk that counterfeit and pirated products pose.

Jogging your memory:

1. Intellectual property refers to the creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. There are four general types of intellectual property: patents, trademarks and trade dress, copyrights and trade secrets.

2. A patent protects an innovation.

3. A trademark protects the identity of the manufacturer or trader.

4. A registered design or model protects the form and design of an object.

5. Copyright and related rights protect the creator of an intellectual work.