Lady LUX

The United States and seven other nations broke new legal ground by signing an anti-counterfeiting pact Oct. 1. Backed by the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Morocco, New Zealand and Singapore, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement targets the fake consumer products that harm copyright and trademark holders internationally, reported WWD.

“Protecting intellectual property is essential to American jobs in innovative and creative industries,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to WWD. “The ACTA provides a platform for the Obama Administration to work cooperatively with other governments to advance the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Today marks a major milestone in the process of putting this agreement into force.”

Intellectual property rights are linked to the health of the economy. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office reports approximately 10 to 20 million jobs in the U.S. hinge on such rights. With this agreement, the United States hopes to increase protection for American exporters, especially those in innovative sectors.

The fashion sector has particularly struggled with piracy, wasting hundreds of millions of dollars attempting to stem the tide of counterfeit goods. During fiscal 2010, the most popular fake products seized by U.S. officials included footwear, clothing and accessories.

For five consecutive years, shoes have topped the list as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s most-seized item. Footwear represented 24 percent of the 19,959 seizures made last fiscal year, which added up to a total of $188.1 million.

Fake consumer electronics was next highest, accounting for 18 percent of all seized goods. Apparel was third at 10 percent, followed by counterfeit handbags, wallets and backpacks, coming in at 8 percent. Jewelry seizures added up to 4 percent.

The new agreement would create a worldwide legal framework for battling counterfeiting and online piracy, ramping up collaboration between criminal enforcement, border enforcement, civil and administrative procedures, and the allocation of intellectual property rights.

As the pact is already in harmony with established U.S. law, it does not require approval from Congress.

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