IPR Trainings with Indian Customs on 27th and 28th July 2016 in Kolkata, West Bengal
India has known to become one of the most cherished destinations for investors with an ever increasing & sizeable market escalated by persistent demand for consumer goods. However, the issue of counterfeiting/infringement remains a common concern to all the right-holders, as its impact cuts across various sectors affecting the revenue, health and employment of people at large, it continues to be a menace to the society and costs billions in revenue to the nation. The right-holders are experiencing a staggering growth in the influx of counterfeits through the Indian territorial borders which has prompted the need for conducting terminal trainings on detection and assessment of counterfeit/infringing goods. With a view to accomplish this and protecting the interest of innocent consumers, United IPR in cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and BASCAP (Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy) conducted trainings in the heart of East India under the Kolkata Customs Commissionerate on the 27th and 28th of July 2016, which saw engagement by a consortium of globally well known brands.
The training on 27th July, 2016 for Customs Officers at the Port was approved by Dr. N. K. Soren, Commissioner of Customs (Port, Kolkata) and headed by Mr. Shivaji Dange, Additional Commissioner of Customs. While the training on 28th July 2016 was headed by Mr. Dinesh Bhoyar, Joint Commissioner of Customs and Mr. Umesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Customs (Airport & Admin). Both the trainings were attended by a large number of Custom officers with vigour and intent to understand the functioning of the IPR system and of the product identification techniques of the participating brands, as is reflected in the written feedback.
Mr. Ugyen Tshering from Bhutan Customs represented the WCO and emphasized on the awareness with respect to the path breaking technologies introduced to curb counterfeiting and piracy. Amongst the right-holders, there were popular brands like Apple, Nike, L’Oreal, Ray-ban, Oakley, Procter & Gamble, Fossil, Calvin Klein, ghd (Good Hair Day), L Brands, Monster Energy, Burberry, Bvlgari, Polo Ralph Lauren and Hindustan Unilever.