‘A world without intellectual property rights’ was the theme of a panel discussion sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce, the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres) and the EPP group, on 22 June. The meeting coincided with the ‘Interparliamentary Forum on Contraband, Counterfeiting and Organised Crime’ exhibition at the European Parliament. Both initiatives aimed to increase awareness among the public and parliamentarians of the problems and dangers related to violation of these rights and to draw attention to the need to strengthen them.

“Intellectual property rights represent 7% of GDP and find expression in innovation, creativity, cultural diversity, employment, quality of life, health and safety,” said MEP Marielle Gallo (EPP, France), who was behind a report on the subject passed by the Committee on Internal Market and Consumers (IMCO) that will go before the plenary in July. She called for development of a knowledge-based economy that cannot exist without this tool, its best guarantee of protection. Phil Lewis, of the EU Counterfeiting and Piracy Observatory, outlined the tasks of his organisation: improving available data on counterfeiting and piracy, informing the public of the dangers of counterfeit products, promoting best practice among public entities and building effective administrative cooperation.

Several participants stressed the connections between counterfeiting and terrorist organisations, which use this activity as a source of easy financing with little risk, given the leniency of penalties. They also demonstrated that all sectors are concerned: health, automotive parts, software, tobacco, pesticides, cultural goods, etc. Hundreds of thousands of European jobs are at risk. “A society without intellectual property rights is a society of violence,” observed Michel Dieudonné, director of the French Anti-Counterfeiting Committee (CNAC). Philippe Hardouin of TERA Consultants presented a study that estimates at €10 billion the economic losses incurred in the EU in 2008 due to piracy.

EXHIBITION

An exhibition that highlights different sectors (tobacco, automotive parts, pallets, software and pesticides) is being held, until 25 June, in the EP lobby in Brussels. It illustrates how hard it can be to distinguish a counterfeit product from an original. Thermo Scientific, an American firm, has developed portable X-ray tools used to detect counterfeit products based on a calculation of the chemical components of the goods analysed, such as metals and medicines. The tools are valuable for customs administrations and research laboratories.