Contact Information: CONTACT: Amy Lehr Communications Coordinator USCIB +1 212 703 5063 Email Contact
Global Survey: More Enforcement Needed to Curb Counterfeiting
GENEVA and NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- January 29, 2007 -- Global companies say more
government enforcement is what is needed most to win the fight against
counterfeiting and piracy, according to a new survey unveiled today by the
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
The first annual BASCAP Global Survey on Counterfeiting and Piracy was
conducted by ICC's Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy
(BASCAP) initiative, in cooperation with the Cass Business School, part of
City University, London. The survey polled 48 companies, many of which
operate globally, spanning 27 product categories.
"Not only does unfair competition from counterfeiting and piracy worldwide
drain billions annually from the 'virtuous circle' of economic growth that
intellectual properly generates, but we are particularly concerned about
the risks for consumers from unsafe counterfeit products," said Peter
Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman and CEO of Nestlé.
ICC is the world business organization, the only representative body
bringing the views of companies from every region and every sector to bear
upon global policy matters. The United
States Council for International Business (USCIB) serves as ICC's
American national committee.
Meeting today in Geneva, CEOs and senior corporate officials from four
continents discussed the survey results and announced a new plan to step up
the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.
When asked which area would yield the best results in curbing
counterfeiting and piracy -- legislation, public education or increased
enforcement -- survey respondents rated enforcement much higher than the
other options.
The survey ranked the best- and worst-performing countries in addressing
counterfeiting and piracy. Companies rated the U.S., U.K., Germany and
France, respectively, as exemplary. Also among the ten best performers, in
descending order, were Japan, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands,
Singapore and Australia.
On the other end of the spectrum, respondents named China and Russia,
respectively, as the two worst-performing countries, followed by India,
Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Pakistan, Turkey and Ukraine.
USCIB promotes an open system of global commerce. Its membership includes
some 300 U.S. companies, professional service firms and associations whose
combined annual revenues exceed $3 trillion. As American affiliate of the
leading international business and employers organizations, USCIB provides
business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and
works to facilitate international trade. More information is available at
www.uscib.org.