EC OPENS CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON EU TOOLBOX AGAINST COUNTERFREITING
On 3 February, the European Commission launched a call for evidence on the EU Toolbox against Counterfeiting, which will remain open for comments until 3 March. The establishment of the Toolbox was announced in the European Commission’s Intellectual Property Action Plan.
The trade of counterfeit goods harms consumers’ health & safety, results in losses of companies’ sales & tax revenues, and relates to organised crime. To step up the fight against counterfeiting, this initiative shall clarify the roles and responsibilities of right holders, intermediaries (e.g. online platforms, payment and transport services, domain name registries/registrars) and public authorities. It aims at finding ways to improve cooperation and data sharing and encourage the use of new technologies.
CLECAT has been in contact with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) in this regard and is currently working on its response to the consultation, providing the view of the European freight forwarding, transport-, and logistics’ industry on the topic.