Global Anti Counterfeiting and Piracy Congress to Meet in Dubai

Geneva, January 28, 2008
MA/2008/38

The Fourth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy will meet in Dubai from February 3-5, 2008 under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai. Senior officials from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and representatives of other international intergovernmental organizations, governments, regional and national enforcement agencies and business will attend the Congress to identify solutions to the escalating problems of counterfeiting and piracy. This is the first time the Global Congress is being held outside Europe.

Hosted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Dubai Customs, the Congress is co-convened by INTERPOL and WIPO, in co-operation with the world’s business community represented by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) through its BASCAP (Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy) initiative, the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the International Security Management Association (ISMA).

The three-day meeting will focus on a range of key themes, including the Health and Safety Risks Counterfeit Products Pose to Consumers; Raising Awareness of the Full Economic and Social Costs of Counterfeiting and Piracy; The Growing Problem of the Sale of Counterfeit and Pirated Products over the Internet; and, Strengthening Cooperation and Collaboration at the Global Level. The Congress will bring together policy makers and experts from more than 60 countries to explore and identify concrete measures and resources to counter the damaging effects of the illegal trade in counterfeit and pirated goods.

The Third Global Congress in January 2007 was hosted by WIPO in Geneva and attracted some 1,000 participants from around the world. The Second Global Congress in 2005 was hosted by INTERPOL in Lyon, France and the First Global Congress was held in Brussels, Belgium in 2004 and hosted by the WCO. These international gatherings have provided a valuable forum for representatives from both the public and private sectors to pool their experience, raise awareness, enhance cooperation and identify strategies to deal more effectively with the global problem of counterfeiting and piracy. Details of previous meetings and the Fourth Global Congress, including the program and list of speakers, are available at www.ccapcongress.net.

Journalists wishing to attend this event are invited to refer to the guidelines for media accreditation at http://www.ccapcongress.net/press/press.htm. Or for additional information please contact:

Dubai Customs
Communication Department
Tel: +9714 302 3922
Fax: +9714 345 6010

WCO
Mr. Grant BUSBY
Communications Director, World Customs Organization
Tel +32-2-2099235
Fax +32-2-2099262
Mobile: +32-476-561950
Email grant.busby@wcoomd.org

INTERPOL
Press Office
Tel: +33472447212 or +33472447169
Email: press@interpol.int

ICC
Ms. Catherine Foster
ICC Communications
Tel: +33149532822
Email: cfr@iccwbo.org

INTA
Mr. Matthew C. Schmidt
Manager, Communications
+1-212-642-1727
mschmidt@inta.org

Mr. Daryl G. Grecich, CAE
Director, Marketing and Programs Strategy
+1-212-642-1707
dgrecich@inta.org

Global Congress Secretariat
Mr. Joseph F. Clark
Phone: +1-905-7263438
Fax: +1-905-8411739
Joseph.clark@the-aac.com