Georgia Against Counterfeiting and Piracy – 2022

To strengthen public-private sector dialogue concerning the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, today, the 6th International Conference “Georgia Against Counterfeiting and Piracy” was opened. The aim of the conference held in Batumi is to ensure effective interagency coordination regarding mechanisms of intellectual property rights enforcement by sharing international experience. The conference is co-organized by Sakpatenti and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP).

During the conference the mechanisms of combating against counterfeiting and piracy will be discussed in a number of directions, in particular, challenges in the pharmaceutical industry and methods of traceability of medicines, attention will also be focused on solutions of problems encountered in auto and textile industries and methods of traceability of goods on the border. Taking into account the conference format, the participants will get acquainted with modern approaches and practical experience related to intellectual property rights enforcement and protection on the country, regional and global levels. In addition, the impact of counterfeiting and piracy on economy and health safety will be considered, as well as internal mechanisms of brand protection and practical examples of fighting against counterfeiting and piracy.

The conference opening remarks were delivered by Manana Pruidze, Sakpatenti Acting Chairperson, who emphasized the importance of the public-private sectors dialogue on intellectual property rights enforcement and joint discussion of existing challenges and ways of their solution by sharing international experience. Besides the opening remarks were delivered by: Mr. Nnamdi Ezera, Senior Counsel, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP); Ms. Tamar Taliashvili, the First Deputy Chair of the Education and Science Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Mr. Vazha Panozishvili, Deputy Head, Investigation Service, Ministry of Finance of Georgia; Mr. Vladimer Khundadze, Deputy Director General, Georgia Revenue Service; and Mr. J. Todd Reves, Director, Building Respect for IP Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Beforehand the kickoff the conference sessions, the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization (WCO). 

The conference will be held for two days, it will be attended by representatives of local and international partner organizations of Sakpatenti, as well as representatives of IP Offices from Central Europe, the Caucasus region, countries of the Black Sea Basin and Central Asia. Presentations will be delivered by representatives of public and private sectors. Representatives of government agencies involved in intellectual property rights enforcement will present to the participants the country reports in the area of counterfeiting and piracy, representatives protecting interests of “Puma”, “Toyota”, “Kombinizona” and “CROSTY” will share with the attendees brand protection mechanisms and their own examples of combating against counterfeiting.

The conference “Georgia Against Counterfeiting and Piracy” is the primary event of the IPR week program. To outline plans for coordinated work against counterfeiting, Expert Level Working Group on IPR for representatives of the IP Offices and Customs Departments of the Caucasus and Eastern Europe will be held in Batumi on July 27th. 

On July 28, the Trans-Caspian IP Forum, will take place, its objective is to develop the future cooperation plan of combating against counterfeiting; 

On July 30-31, the workshop on “Adjudication of Civil Intellectual Property Infringement Cases” will be held, within which U.S. judges will share experience with their counterparts from Georgia in the direction of intellectual property protection.

All above-mentioned events will be co-organized by Sakpatenti in cooperation with CLDP.