The FINANCIAL — Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP), an initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has been given the 2015 Global Anti-Counterfeiting Award in the Association category. The award is bestowed on BASCAP for having “demonstrated value of co-operation between sectors and the effectiveness of multilateral public private cooperation in the fight against counterfeiting.” This is the second time BASCAP has received this award.
As part of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, the winners of the seventeenth annual Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards, sponsored by Reconnaissance International’s Authentication News and the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG) Network, were announced on the 24 June at the Paris Museum of Counterfeiting, housed at the Headquarters of the Union des Fabricants (Unifab).
The GAC awards recognize the outstanding performances by individuals and organizations in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Many organizations, companies and individuals are taking effective action against these illicit, dangerous and sub-standard goods to protect consumers, promote investment in new jobs, increase government revenues and to combat the involvement of organized crime. Various strategies were recognized as effective to stop these illegal procedures, including the implementation of successful advocacy campaigns and a strong cooperation with the public and the private sector, according to ICC.
Tracy Faustin, BASCAP Project Manager, accepted the award on behalf of BASCAP’s members and staff. “BASCAP is honoured to receive this recognition for its work to unite global businesses affected by counterfeiting and piracy, and to work closely with governments, associations and key partners to ensure that the right systems are in place to protect brand owners and consumers alike,” she said.
John Anderson, Chairman of the GACG network of national and regional anti-counterfeiting organizations and Mark Deakes of Reconnaissance International noted the success of strategic collaboration between organizations and individuals across the public and the private sector demonstrated by the award winners and underscored the importance of raising public awareness in the fight against counterfeit goods.
During the ceremony, Mr Anderson said “I am especially impressed once again with the emphasis on both coordination between the public and private sectors and the importance of raising public awareness that was evident in many of the nominations showing one more time the importance of these strategies in the effective fight against counterfeiting and piracy.”
Through BASCAP, ICC has been increasing the level of its activities both at the international level of advocacy and presenting strategic research in areas such as Free Trade Zones and security of supply chains. It has also focused on bilateral cooperation in countries such as Kenya, Turkey and Nigeria where significant research reports on the state of IP enforcement have been presented to governments and industry. BASCAP also leads a public awareness coordination role through its campaign “Fakes Cost More, I Buy Real”
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