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March 7, 2003

Amendments to the Trademark Law for Destroying Equipment Used to Produce Counterfeit Products Are Submitted to the State Duma for Consideration

The Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) told RosBusinessConsulting that deputies proposed to make amendments to the law "On Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin," providing for the possibility to destroy the seized equipment used to produce counterfeits by a court order. CIPR noted that these amendments also include a series of changes and additions to the RF Criminal Code, the RF Criminal Procedure Code and other legislative acts. One of the creators of these amendments, Viktor Voytenko, thinks that passing this draft law will not be easy. The new wording of the law "On Trademarks, Service Marks and Appellations of Origin" was signed by the president on December 11, 2002 and became effective on January 1, 2003. For the first time, the new wording of the law contains a definition of "counterfeit products" and provisions to confiscate and destroy counterfeit goods. According to CIPR Vice President Alexander Shelemekh, the deputies' initiative is in line with international standards in intellectual property rights protection. The application of this authority would support the de-criminalization of the Russian market and the attraction of foreign investments, Alexander Shelemekh said.