EU fights against counterfeiting in South East Asia

In recent months, the EU has stepped up its fight against counterfeiting in South East Asia. The Intellectual Property Office of the European Union is in fact setting up a project with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to intensify intellectual and industrial property rights.   ASEAN comprises ten countries in Southeast Asia, in which the counterfeiting is omnipresent. Indeed, Thailand is one of the leading counterfeiters. However, the counterfeiting in South-East Asia, luxury products (jewellery, watches, handbags, clothing, etc.) and smartphones are causing significant job and financial losses in the European Union. What about this project promoting the protection of the environment? intellectual and industrial property rights?  

Counterfeiting in Southeast Asia: a project for the protection of intellectual and industrial property rights

  The European Union collaborates with theASEAN for the promotion of the protection of intellectual and industrial property rights. The EU is thus stepping up its fight against counterfeiting within the perimeter of the ten ASEAN countries. This association includes Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam.   The project will contain two programmes called IP Key Southeast Asia (IP Key SEA) and ARISE Plus.   IP Key SEA already exists in China and Latin America. It is dedicated to the business and corporate world. The budget is €7 million for the next four years. ARISE Plus also focuses on development and cooperation with a budget of €5.5 million over five years.   Luis Berenguer, spokesman for the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), believes it is important to create a friendly environment for the protection of intellectual and industrial property of European companies, but also of those dependent on l’ASEAN.   The objective of the project is first of all to increase knowledge of intellectual and industrial property. The EU is working with l’ASEAN to develop tools and technologies. It also provides technical assistance to protect intellectual and industrial property rights. Encouraging business innovation and creativity is also one of the goals of the project.   Many products are victims of counterfeiting. Mobile phones are among the first products to be impacted by the counterfeiting in Southeast Asia.  

Counterfeiting impacts smartphones, but not that

Since 2015, the European mobile phone industry has been suffering from the increase in the number of mobile phone users. counterfeits smartphones. Beyond the economic problems and the fall in jobs in this field, there are also concerns for the safety and health of consumers. The European Union is therefore taking action to put an end to these negative effects.   Every year, the European Union also reports a loss of €90 billion and 800,000 jobs due to the counterfeiting in particular jewellery, watches, handbags, pesticides and toys. The EU invests €19 billion annually in ASEAN. Collaboration between the EU and l’ASEAN will hopefully alleviate this situation.