Alexander Kotenkov, the Russian president's representative at the Federation Council (left), attends the conference headlined "Efficient Fight Against Counterfeited Products".
Photo: Vasily Shaposhnikov
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Arguments against Counterfeited Goods
Kommersant Publishing House and JT International held the conference headlined “Efficient Fight Against Counterfeited Products” which gathered some 100 companies, governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Most speakers of the conference agreed that legal producers are second to none in the fight against counterfeited goods, and patching up of the legislation or police raids are not a remedy to crack donw on piracy.
Experts estimate the share of counterfeited products at 30 up to 90 percent in various groups of goods. The total volume of illegal products reaches $600 billion worldwide.
Participants of the conference noted that the Russian anti-pirate legislation is almost a replica of its western counterparts.
Boris Simonov, the head of the Russian Patent Agency: “When were drafting these laws, we studied the experience of other countries. Our laws are in line with the international legislation as a result. But the enforcement calls for an improvement because the copyright is infringed following our special Russian pattern. The experience of other countries proved to be infective here.”
Therefore, market experts state that actions of the companies suffering from piracy are the only efficient measure.
Pyotr Shelishch, State Duma deputy and representative of the Russian Union of Customers: “I don’t suggest that right-holders fight with the counterfeit in public… But there are many other effective measures,” he said mentioning raids of large piracy outlets.
Sergey Rybak, the PR director of GG&MV, the owner of the trademark of Borzhomi, emphasized the role of nonprofit partnership, such as Rusbrand or the League of the Consumer Rights Protection, which rallies different, often competing, companies to make the struggle against the piracy more effective.
Roman Ovchinnikov
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 21, 2005
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