REACT starts working independently in 2006

January 13, 2006

According to a mandate of its organization, CIPR has provided active assistance for development of a REACT model in Latvia since the very launch of the CIPR/REACT joint project in February 2004. To date, REACT has gained awareness in Latvia and also established the necessary cooperation links with officials in Customs, the Economy Police and other public authorities.

CIPR members and rightsholders, are satisfied with the joint venture achievements and consider that REACT can continue its further activities in Latvia as an independent organization of rightsholders starting in January 2006, in the same manner as it is organized in other member states of the European Union, and continue the activities launched under the joint project.

Assessing the results of the CIPR/REACT joint project, we are satisfied with the achievements; work of both the Customs and Economy Police has been more effective in comparison with 2004 — the number of seizures of counterfeit goods executed upon the initiative of customs offices (ex officio) has increased, which indicates that the understanding by the customs officers of the eventual intellectual property violations has increased. A significant benchmark was the establishment of the Economy Police IPR Devision, where we already have proof of the effectiveness of their work — the volume of seized counterfeit goods within the eight months of operation of this Department is larger than the volume of counterfeit goods seized during the whole year 2004 within the joint project.