Government Affairs Activity on Counterfeiting Brand Protection Council Meeting November 14, 2006 Dearborn, MI

Washington Work on Brand Protection  MEMA is working independently and with the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, (CACP), the US Chamber of Commerce and other groups.  Update on the U.S.-Chamber –Fairfax Group Investigation Project  The election of Democrats to the Congress will mean more aggressive oversight of Federal agencies progress, or lack of progress on fighting counterfeiting. Expect Congress to put more pressure on US Customs to detect counterfeit goods at the ports and investigate trafficking.  BPC, CACP and others will seek additional funding from the Congress for anti-counterfeiting.  Model state anti-counterfeiting legislation proposed by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC). Can BPC lend its support this effort?

Washington Work on Brand Protection  New Government Resources in the Field: The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has now installed new IP attaches at US embassies in Beijing/Guangzhou, Bangkok, New Delhi, Cairo, and Sao Paulo. Attaches will have regional responsibilities.  The OECD Report on Counterfeiting in the Automotive Industry will be issued before year end. The BPC has made a substantive contribution to the report. We will keep you informed.  What useful action, if any, can be spurred by this report?  From our previous meetings - Where is the service sector? Manufacturers and rights holders are engaged, but involvement by the service sectors, importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, is lacking.