How to tackle 'sneaky' counterfeiters with customs actions

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

How to tackle 'sneaky' counterfeiters with customs actions

aippi.jpg

The general counsel at a US-based beauty and wellness company told an audience yesterday how to take on increasingly “sneaky” counterfeiters

Matthew Wagner, general counsel at PDC Brands, discussed strategies for recording IP rights with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and shared stories from China. He was speaking at the 2019 AIPPI World Congress in London. 

During the session, “Seize the Day – Customs and Border Control”, Wagner began by saying that between 4.2 million and 5.4 million jobs could be lost by 2022 as a result of counterfeiting and piracy.

Just 38,000 of the millions of US brands have active trademark or copyright recordations in the CBP system, said Wagner. “Industry doesn’t take enough advantage of the programme,” he added.

Providing tips on using the system, he said that pending copyright applications – but not pending trademark filings – can be submitted. He also advised companies to “get to know your CBP office and educate them about your goods”.

Sharing a challenging recent experience, Wagner explained that CBP detained some of his company’s goods for which there was no recordation – as the brand in question had not suffered from counterfeiting. PDC then had to prove ownership of the brand, hire outside counsel and even incur penalties from vendors because of late delivery.

On a more positive note, he recalled a story from China, which is still the world’s primary counterfeiting source. PDC had received information that someone was trying to record its brand with Chinese customs before seeking to export counterfeit goods. By recording its rights first, “we beat them to the punch,” Wagner said.

He explained some strategic recommendations that the CBP could implement to clamp down on counterfeiters. These include permitting exclusive licensees to submit and record IP rights, accepting design patents, using up to date technology to access databases used to track legitimate goods, and improving the sharing of data.  

The session then heard from Wolf Meier-Ewert, counsellor at the World Trade Organization’s IP Division. He said that one of the “obscure provisions” of TRIPS is that signatory countries are supposed to maintain contact points for exchanging information on trade in IP-infringing goods.

However, “it’s a terribly underused system,” he said, as the contact points are “hardly ever” contacted. “It’s a great loss of something that could be quite useful,” he added.

Jordi Güell, of Güell IP in Barcelona, also spoke on the panel. He explained that Spain is in the top 10 EU countries for counterfeit seizures, also pointing out that Spanish (and EU) territory stretches close to Africa in the form of the Canary Islands.

He urged brands to be proactive and responsive, saying that an application for customs action should be used, “but if you really want customs to be active, maybe visit them, the spots where counterfeits come in, and train them”.

He added that, while budgetary limitations are understandable, brands should avoid having a minimum threshold of counterfeit goods seized before being willing to take action. This is because, he said, customs count the number of products they detain and may be less inclined to help the brand in future if it chooses not to follow up on a seizure.

The Congress finishes today.

Image credit: Simon Callaghan Photography

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Firms explain the IP concerns that can arise amid attempts by brands to show off their ‘Canadianness’ to consumers
Counsel say they will be monitoring issues such as the placement of house marks, and how Mondelēz demonstrates a likelihood of confusion in its dispute with Aldi
The EUIPO expanding its mediation services and a new Riyadh office for Simmons & Simmons were also among the top talking points this week
David Boundy explains why Pierson Ferdinand provides a platform that will allow him to use administrative law to address IP concerns
Developments included an anti-anti-suit injunction being granted for the first time, and the court clarifying that it can adjudicate over alleged infringements that occurred before June 2023
Griffith Hack’s Amanda Stark, one of our ‘Top 250 Women in IP’, explains how peer support from male colleagues is crucial, and reveals why the life sciences sector is thriving
The case, which could offer clarity on the training of AI models within the context of copyright law, will go to trial in the UK next week
CMS IndusLaw co-founder Suneeth Katarki says he plans to hire a patent team in India and argues that IP should play a major role within full-service firms
Partners at the firm explain why they’ve seen more SEP cases at the ITC, and why they are comfortable recommending the forum to clients
The association, which will head to London in 2026, hosted its flagship event in the Californian city in 2005, 2015 and 2025
Gift this article