Kazakh Justice Ministry to host anti-counterfeiting global forum in Astana

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Justice will be organising an anti-counterfeiting international forum on May 21 at the Palace of Independence in national capital Astana.

The forum is an international platform to facilitate constructive dialogue between representatives of government, business, science, rights holders, producers, writers and public representatives against counterfeit products, protection of intellectual property and the formation of a civilized market of goods and services.

According to a Ministry of Justice release forwarded through the Kazakhstan Embassy in New Delhi, the following issues will be discussed: (1) Problems of counteraction against counterfeiting, falsified and defected products (2) Food and pharmaceutical safety (3) Dissemination of pirated music audio and video products on the Internet and (4) Issues on harmonization of legislation in the sphere of intellectual property within the Customs Union.

The event will have five sessions:

Session one will discuss issues on harmonization of legislation on the protection of intellectual property rights within the Customs Union. Customs Union countries build development strategy of regional integration, which is primarily aimed at creating a unified system of legal regulation of certain issues that require interaction of parties. Intellectual property is one of these interactions. The first step towards integration in this direction is the approximation and harmonization of legal norms in this area.

Session two will dwell on food, pharmaceutical and children's products safety - the guarantee of health of the nation.

The problem of distribution of counterfeit goods takes one of the main places in Kazakhstan. The spread of counterfeit products adversely affects the economy in the form of delivery of defective products on the market, affecting the safety, health, uncollected taxes, etc.

Counterfeiting accounts for the largest share of clothing and footwear (share in the relevant market - 60-70 per cent), the second position is occupied by perfumes, cosmetics and cleaning products (60-70 per cent), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (60 per cent), and pharmaceuticals (40-50 per cent%). Among certain types of goods (toys, children's clothing and footwear), the proportion of counterfeiting reaches 80 per cent.

Session three will deliberate on enforcement of intellectual property on the Internet.

Development of digital technologies and the constant expansion of the Internet have opened up new opportunities for the users. Piracy - is one of the negative phenomena, which is now widely spread in audio and video products.

Tightening the responsibilities of users illegally distributing products on the Internet always causes active resistance form their part. Therefore, the problem of piracy is subject for wide debate and it is necessary to identify the ways to address it.

Session four will discuss on counteract of production and dissemination of counterfeit products.

Reducing the spread of counterfeit products requires an effective interaction of authorized bodies in the prevention and suppression of the facts of distribution of counterfeit products. It is necessary to develop a strategy for cooperation between the member states of the Customs Union to counteract production and dissemination of counterfeit products on the territory of the Eurasian Economic Space.

Session five will dwell on enforcement of intellectual property - protection against unfair competition.

One of the preventive measures to protect against unfair competition is to strengthen sufficient and clear provisions for the imposition of sanctions for adequate caused damage. Regulation of such issues depends on effective enforcement against counterfeiting.

Speakers and participants will include representatives of the governments of Kazakhstan, Russia andBelarus; representatives of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Eurasian Economic Commission for Europe, World Customs Organization (WCO), World Health Organization, Interpol, International Trademark Association (INTA); International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI); African Intellectual Property Organization, Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and far abroad, NGOs, rights holders, universities and other interested parties.