Brussels, 27/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is preparing to unveil an anti-counterfeiting action plan on Tuesday 1 July to tackle the scourge at all levels of the economy, for example, in health, with false medicines. By boosting implementation of intellectual property rights, it hopes to help stamp out organised crime. Violation of intellectual property rights is estimated to cost €200 billion around the world each year. The action plan will be published in a Commission report in the form of a dozen non-legislative proposals for ensuring better respect of intellectual property rights with the aim of getting member states to focus on cooperation, training (of customs officials or the legal system, for example) and awareness-raising. The action plan will tackle organised crime rather than individuals. Suggested action includes insurance for small businesses to protect them against violations of intellectual property rights and the right to be reimbursed if one unknowingly buys a counterfeit product. The Commission will unveil new tools to track money and deprive counterfeiters of income.
The action plan will be accompanied by a strategy for ensuring respect of intellectual property rights outside the EU via tighter customs cooperation. (MD)