The Central Excise Customs held a seminar on protection of intellectual property rights, organised by the trade restrictions and export control division of the federal customs revenue service. Source: Central Excise Customs (CAT).
Participants included representatives of the Alliance Against Counterfeit Spirits (AACS) in Russia — Schmitt & Orlov Intellectual Property LLC — Lacoste S.A.S., Gant A.B. through the Shevyrev & Partners law firm, and other rights holders.
Opening the event, acting deputy head of the customs office Marina Bazilskaya outlined current issues in cooperation between customs authorities and rights holders (and their representatives) under external sanctions pressure and tasks to strengthen technological sovereignty. The meeting was moderated by head of the trade restrictions and export control division Elena Strakhova.
Deputy head of the customs procedures and control division Anna Bereznyakova spoke on protecting intellectual property rights under the first stage of inter-post dispatch, declaring goods bearing trademarks that include IP objects on the automated customs procedures platform (electronic declaration centre), and trademarks both included in and excluded from the FCS Russia TROIS register.
Acting head of the specialised customs post Yekaterina Markova described current practice in protecting IP rights for jewellery and watches. Via videoconference, the excise specialised post (electronic declaration centre), North-West excise specialised post and Smolensk excise post joined the discussion.
Participants raised issues of harmonising legislation with the need to protect intellectual rights: adding to the FCS Russia TROIS register information on identification features distinguishing genuine from counterfeit goods; building dialogue between rights holders and customs experts in pre-trial interaction; and eliminating conditions and reasons for importing counterfeit products. The event took place in a constructive, friendly format, with both sides expressing hope for effective cooperation.