ICC BASCAP and the Brand Protection Group Brazil partner to deter trade in counterfeit goods

Signed on behalf of ICC’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy initiative (BASCAP), the MoU serves as a guiding framework for cooperation between both parties to develop and implement programmes that will strengthen enforcement of anti-counterfeit laws and measures and raise public awareness of the related harmful impact. The objective of the MOU is to foster increased collaboration in the fight against counterfeiters that will benefit Brazil’s consumers as well as international and local brand owners.

The MoU allows for BASCAP and BPG to support regional IP initiatives, programmes and workshops, including developing capacity building for stronger enforcement of related laws, promoting research to evaluate the scope and scale of the counterfeiting problem, developing best practices based on global experiences and raising awareness of the economic and social impacts of counterfeiting. Notably, the MoU also sets the framework for both parties to share useful information concerning counterfeiting and piracy in Brazil. This includes the recognition and identification of counterfeit goods that are available domestically and that are imported into or exported from the country; and data that will assist in developing stronger due diligence of supply chain networks in Brazil.

Commenting on the partnership, ICC BASCAP Director Sophie Peresson said: “Brazil is an important market for many BASCAP members. We are encouraged by the recent prioritisation of intellectual property enforcement by the government; however, more needs to be done. BASCAP and BPG share a common commitment to increase efforts to protect business and consumers from intellectual property fraud. We are pleased to partner with BPG to identify ways we can deter criminals from trading in counterfeits and to raise more attention to these issues.”

BASCAP will be supported by ICC’s national chapter ICC Brazil and the BASCAP Brazil Working Group, which comprises local member-company representatives, in delivering the objectives in the MoU. Both organisations will commence the identification of specific projects to develop local initiatives as part of the MoU that can be completed over the next three years.