MIAMI: April 21, 2016. The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has called on Customs authorities to bring together rights holders, service providers and regulators to combat a growing trade in counterfeiting estimated by the International Chamber of Commerce at over US$1.7 trillion in 2011.
The move follows a decision this month by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) to create a new membership category for intermediaries to join the organization's 250 members in over 40 countries.
"The problem of counterfeiting is too pervasive and complex for any single company or industry to combat on its own. By bringing intermediaries to the fold, we are offering our current membership a new way to work with them directly on this issue while coordinating a collective effort to developing solutions to global counterfeiting and piracy," said Bob Barchiesi, IACC president.
Last year the IACC cited an Associated Press report that Chinese banks "were a haven for web counterfeits". More information: http://www.iacc.org/media/chinese-banks-a-haven-for-web-counterfeits
In announcing the Alibaba Group had become its first Intermediary member, the IACC said the new category would be available to companies "not directly or substantially impacted by counterfeiting, but whose industry position or policies make them a potential partner with the IACC in its mission to combat counterfeiting and piracy".
As intermediaries, TIACA said the air cargo industry plays a vital role in the investigation and interdiction of counterfeit shipments and as such should be part of a three-pronged approach with rights holders and Customs authorities to fighting the trade.
Doug Brittin, TIACA secretary general commented: "Each party needs to acknowledge its role and limitations. Air cargo industry members are not law enforcement agencies, and our role is necessarily limited by this reality.
"Any potential liability for air cargo industry members should be limited to instances where air cargo operators have actual knowledge of receiving or handling IPR infringing goods and have failed to take action based on that knowledge," he added.
