CIPR Honored as "Association of the Year"
by the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group

CIPR cited for "going the extra mile" to prevent counterfeit products
from reaching consumers in Russia, CIS and Baltic States

Moscow — The Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) was named 2003 Association of the Year today by the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group for the Coalition's "outstanding achievements in the fight against counterfeiting in Russia, the CIS and the Baltic States."

The sixth annual Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards commemorate World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, 19 June. They were announced today at back-to-back ceremonies and news conferences in Paris and Washington, DC.

World Anti-Counterfeiting Day focuses attention on the costly international dimension of counterfeiting and piracy, which represents 8% of total world trade, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau.

In announcing the award, GACG called CIPR "the leading IPR and anti-counterfeiting association in the region" comprised of the former Soviet Union. CIPR was especially praised for its leadership role in "stimulating the adoption of stronger IP enforcement legislation in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Latvia."

UK-based GACG, the world federation of national anti-counterfeiting organizations, and Authentication News, organize and sponsor the yearly Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards. The awards "encourage and recognize firm action against counterfeits and counterfeiters by public sector organizations, industry associations, brand-owning companies and media organizations."

CIPR, the French Customs & Excise Service, The Economist magazine and The Gillette Company were selected for the 2003 Awards by a distinguished panel of international judges from the anti-counterfeiting community.

Russian State Duma members, Ministry of Interior officials, consumer advocates and major IP rights holders added their endorsements of CIPR's receipt of the 2003 Global Anti-Counterfeiting Award.

"CIPR has proven itself an extremely reliable and effective partner in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy," said Andrei Starostin, deputy head of the IP Crimes Department of the Ministry of Interior (GUBEP).

"The Coalition's economic and opinion research among both consumers and brand owners are also valuable in targeting and prioritizing the anti-counterfeiting actions of Russian law enforcement authorities," Starostin added.

"Microsoft recently joined CIPR to augment our company's intensive efforts to combat piracy and counterfeiting in the region, the two most urgent issues facing the entire rights holder community," said Olga Dergunova, Managing Director for Microsoft in the Russian Federation.

Annual losses to creators and developers of business software, music, film and books in Russia and in other countries of the former Soviet Union exceed $1.2 billion, according to industry estimates.

"Combined with staggering financial losses to trademark, patent and other industrial property owners," Dergunova said, "IP rights holders face an enforcement challenge that can only be tackled by combining the efforts of the private sector, government and consumers. CIPR provides the leadership and broad-based partnerships needed to lead the fight against both piracy and counterfeiting in Russia and the region."

"CIPR deserves this award!" said Pyotr Shelisch, State Duma Deputy and Chairman of the Consumer Union of Russia. "CIPR has gained the status of leading expert on IP legislation and anti-counterfeiting activities, and is known as a bridge between IP owners and decision-makers, as well as between IP owners and consumers."

In announcing the award, GACG also highlighted CIPR's creation of the Russia IP Working Group, which brings together industrial property and copyright owners, leading consumer groups and business associations as well as government representatives from the State Duma, Rospatent, State Customs Committee, Ministry of Interior and Anti-Monopoly Ministry, among others, to work for stronger enforcement and increased penalties for IPR violation.

"CIPR is honored to be recognized by its peers and partners for its efforts in advancing IP rights protection and enforcement in Russia, the Baltic States and in other countries of the former Soviet Union," said Peter B. Necarsulmer, President of CIPR.

The Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) is a private-public partnership dedicated solely to protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights in the CIS countries and the Baltic States. Through legislative initiatives and lobbying, coalition building, enforcement actions, public awareness, and opinion and economic research, CIPR assists governments and IP owners to establish transparent IPR regimes that adhere to international standards.

CIPR's Corporate Members include a number of the world's most famous trademark owners in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, fashion, computer, tobacco and luxury goods industries. CIPR's Associate Members include 30 international and regional business and trade organizations and anti-counterfeiting groups, which, combined, represent thousands of IP rights holders.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Some of CIPR's Associate Members from Russia include: Russian Union of Professional Pharmaceutical Organizations, Russian Authors' Society, Consumers Union of Russia, Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Association of Russian Patent Attorneys, Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, European Business Club, Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and, US-Russia Business Council.

CIPR Corporate Members include: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Baker & McKenzie, BAT, Becton Dickinson, Coca-Cola, Dell Computer, Diageo, Four Seasons Hotels Limited, Gowlings International, Geom Ltd., Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, Gallaher International, Guinness UDV, ICN Pharmaceuticals, Intel, Kraft Foods, Kroll, Microsoft, Morshinska Mineral Water Factory "Oskar" (Ukraine), Lovell's, Pfizer, Philip Morris International and, Tiffany and Company.