Great Times for Brand Pirates: Counterfeit & Piracy Report

Released on = October 16, 2005, 9:21 pm

Press Release Author = Gieschen Consultancy

Industry = International Trade

Press Release Summary = September marked the highest month-to-dat for intellectual property violations with 142 incidents (trademark infringement and copyright violations). Total counterfeit and piracy seizures and losses exceeded $117 Million (USD), as reported by Gieschen Consultancy.

Press Release Body = Monday October 17, 2005 -- Calgary, Canada -- Based on worldwide counterfeit enforcement activity (investigations, raids, seizures, arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, civil litigation) for month of September 2005, as reported through the DOPIP Security Counterfeit Intelligence Report, more than 309 incidents valued at $117,401,832 (US Dollars) were analyzed from 55
countries.

The top 10 brands counterfeited:

1. Microsoft.
2. Nike.
3. Adidas.
4. Burberry.
5. Louis Vuitton.
6. Sony.
7. Lacoste.
8. Reebok.
9. Viagra.
10. Benson & Hedges.

The top 10 items counterfeited:

1. Currency.
2. Films.
3. Software (Business).
4. Checks.
5. Medicines.
6. Music.
7. Passports.
8. Software (Games).
9. Drivers Licenses.
10. Cigarettes.

The top 10 countries reporting intellectual property violations:

1. Denmark, $33 Million (USD) seizures and losses.
2. Hong Kong, $17.6 Million.
3. Indonesia, $14.3 Million.
4. USA, $12.3 Million.
5. Nigeria, $5.8 Million.
6. China, $5.4 Million.
7. France, $3.9 Million.
8. UK, $3.5 Million.
9. Pakistan, $3.3 Million.
10. Hungary, $2.5 Million.

Other countries include Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Taiwan, UAE, Uganda, and Vietnam.

The top 20 countries pursuing all forms of counterfeiting and pirate activity (documents, identification and intellectual property):

1. USA, 98 incidents, $12.8 Million (USD) seizures and losses.
2. India, 38 incidents, $1.4 Million.
3. UK, 30 incidents, $3.5 Million.
4. Canada, 12 incidents, $2.0 Million.
5. Malaysia, 12 incidents.
6. Philippines, 8 incidents.
7. China, 7 incidents, $5.4 Million.
8. Nigeria, 7 incidents, $5.8 Million.
9. Russia, 6 incidents.
10. Hungary, 5 incidents, $2.5 Million.
11. Australia, 5 incidents.
12. Germany, 4 incidents, $1.4 Million.
13. Japan, 4 incidents.
14. Hong Kong, 3 incidents, $17.6 Million.
15. France, 3 incidents, $4.0 Million.
16. Pakistan, 3 incidents, $3.4 Million.
17. UAE, 3 incidents.
18. Indonesia, 2 incidents, $14.3 Million.
19. Columbia, 2 incidents, $4.6 Million.
20. Italy, 2 incidents, $1.4 Million.

For more information: http://www.goldsec.com/Security_Research.htm

The most popular items to counterfeit:

1. Financial Instruments, 103 incidents worth $9.3 Million.
2. Entertainment & Software, 65 incidents worth $8.1 Million.
3. Identification, 27 incidents worth $14.4 Million.
4. Other Documents, 24 incidents.
5. Clothing & Accessories, 22 incidents worth $26.1 Million.
6. Drugs & Medical, 11 incidents worth $9.9 Million.
7. Industrial Goods & Supplies, 11 incidents worth $35.2 Million.
8. Electronic Equipment & Supplies, 7incidents.
9. Food & Alcohol, 6 incidents.
10. Cigarettes & Tobacco Products, 4 incidents worth $10.3 Million.
11. Perfume & Cosmetics, 4 incidents.
12. Computer Equipment & Supplies, 3 incidents.
13. Jewelry & Watches, 3 incidents.
14. Toys, 3 incidents.
15. Other Goods, 2 incidents.

In summarizing the activity for the month of September, Glen Gieschen, Managing Director of Gieschen Consultancy stated, "In the month of September, Microsoft products were the most heavily seized products during intellectual property enforcement raids indicating a high consumer preference towards pirated software. It has become apparent in 2005 that Microsoft is the top software brand
counterfeited, and is consistently in the top 5 global brands pirated. In the past 10 months, Microsoft has made the top 5 list 50% of the time. The only other brand with a larger presence in the market for counterfeit products is Louis Vuitton, which spends more than $18 Million annually protecting its brand. In the past year more than 1,375 types of counterfeits from 930 brands, brand owners and victims were identified, originating from 935 illegal manufacturers, distributors and sellers."

According to Charles Maier, the Counterfeit Intelligence Manager for Gieschen Consultancy, “When consumer products manufacturers, intellectual property licensors and other brand owners spend billions of dollars every year to build these brands, it makes economic sense to protect themselves against product counterfeiting. They need to keep up-to-date on who is counterfeiting what and where – then enforce the domestic or international laws that protect their copyrights and trademarks to maintain the integrity of their products and their own good name in the marketplace.”

About Gieschen Consultancy

Gieschen Consultancy, provides counterfeit intelligence analysis and security research relating to documents, products and intellectual property. Gieschen Consultancy educates clients regarding counterfeiting issues, and assists in developing anti-counterfeiting, brand protection and enforcement solutions. Providing the knowledge of the criminal Modus Operandi (methods of operation), legal and political issues, security technology, industry reports and statistical
information, effective strategies can then be developed, implemented and monitored.

For more information visit http://www.gieschen.com/.

About DOPIP SCI Reports

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Web Site = http://www.gieschen.com/

Contact Details = Glen Gieschen
Managing Director
Gieschen Consultancy
Glen@Gieschen.com
Phone 403-256-5680
Calgary, Alberta Canada