A New Approach to Fight Counterfeiting and Piracy with Tools to Enforce Your Intellectual Property Rights Globally and Locally

Businesses cannot ignore the threat of counterfeiting and piracy. Illicit products are often substandard and can be dangerous. This can result in legitimate businesses experiencing reputational damage and lost market share.

Criminals target all product categories, from luxury goods to everyday commodities, pharmaceuticals to tobacco products, and no industry is immune. Goods that are deemed ‘illicit’ or ‘fraudulent’ originate from a variety of sources including products that are counterfeit, trademark or patent infringing, fraudulently obtained via the grey market (diverted), genuine but expired or tampered with, or stolen.

Rights holders must be proactive to protect their intellectual property rights and fight illicit trade.

This webinar series, presented by JPMA Associate Member SGS and moderated by JPMA Associate Member Freeborn & Peters, will feature subject matter experts who will discuss IP enforcement tools from a global and local perspective and identify cost-effective tools for brand protection.

Join us on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 1pm EDT as we discuss these important topics. 

Who Should Attend:

Marketing, IP and Brand Protection, and C-Suite.

Speakers:

Jeremy D. Richardson

Jeremy Richardson leads the firm's Consumer Products Industry Team, is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group, and a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Jeremy works primarily with consumer product manufacturers and, in particular, the juvenile products industry.

Clients leverage Jeremy's expertise – including his fashion law background – in times of opportunity and need. Jeremy partners with clients to provide practical solutions on an array of matters including trademark and copyright protection; intellectual property licenses; minimum advertised price policies; terms and conditions of sale; third-party logistics and warehouse agreements; and contract disputes. He is also sought after to advise on regulatory compliance matters. When litigation becomes necessary, Jeremy practices in New York State and Federal courts, in arbitration, has argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and has been admitted pro hac vice to practice before a number of courts.

Jeremy's impact on the juvenile products industry is felt beyond the boardroom and courthouse. His professional affiliations include the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association; the International Consumer Products Health and Safety Organization; Toy Association; and ASTM International. Jeremy has been a guest lecturer at Parsons School of Design and Fordham Law School on legal and regulatory issues in the fashion industry.

Christophe Zimmerman

Christophe Zimmermann is now leading the FIT Projects as Director at SGS. Christophe is a world renowned specialist in the fight against illicit trade with extensive operational and filed experience. He is a former Principal administrator at world customs organizations where he was in charge of the fight against counterfeiting and Piracy (2006-2016). This involves a number of activities including a program to further raise global awareness about the dangers associated with this trade and conducting extensive operational training exercises to enhance the ability of Customs administrations to tackle this fight more effectively. During his career, Christophe has gained extensive experience in the fight against illicit trade field. He served as a Customs officer with the French Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes for 15 years where he was Head of an operational unit responsible for specialised enforcement at Paris airports that included counterfeiting, piracy, and drugs. From March 2000 to March 2004 he was seconded to the European Commission (EC) as a national Customs expert with responsibility for Customs legislation relating to intellectual property and for improving operational controls. Whilst at the EC, Christophe formed part of a team who established a central databank containing IPR seizure statistics in the European Union. In April 2004 until his move to the WCO, Christophe was Head of Sector for Counterfeiting and Piracy within the European Commission's Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD). As a specialist in the fight against illicit trade, and he has also advised the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), US DOJ, WHO, and Interpol's Intellectual Property Crime Action Group (IIPCAG). His efforts were recognized by the French Customs in 1997 ('Medaille d'Honneur') and by the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group with their Anti-Counterfeiting World Award that he received in 2004, 2007, and 2012.