The Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) and Russian consumer advocates released the first consumer study of counterfeiting yesterday. The consumer survey found that 93 percent of Muscovites "encountered" counterfeits where they shopped during 2002. In this vein Peter Necarsulmer said that consumers want and expect Vladimir Putin's leadership in solving this problem.

Face-to-face interviews were conducted from November 5 to December 5, 2002 in the homes of 1,200 Moscow consumers. The survey found that clothing, footwear and sportswear are the counterfeit products most encountered by consumers (51%), followed by alcohol (47%), food (46%), pirated music and films (37%), and medicines (31%). The Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Kristall and Nescafe trademarks were among the most frequently mentioned. Asked about specific counterfeit prescription and over-the-counter medicines encountered most often, 35 percent named, unaided, the following specific brands: Noshpa, Analgin, Aspirin UPSA, Validol, Sumamed, and Mezim Forte, among others.

Asked to identify who is most responsible for solving the problem, 67 percent named state and regional authorities. Three quarters of respondents believe that organized crime is behind counterfeiting, and one out of three believes it is linked with terrorist groups. Consumers also say that counterfeiting will never be eliminated in Russia, unless corruption in government circles is eliminated. They say the problem will only be solved if President Putin makes it a priority. "Sixty percent of printing-houses' revenues come from the printing of labels and packaging," said Pyotr Shelisch, chairman of the Consumer Union of Russia and a member of the State Duma, "Everyone who wanted to could previously order the Kristall vodka labels. Beginning this year, printing-houses must request from customers the confirmation of their rights to the trademarks. Unfortunately, we failed to secure a provision in the new wording of the Trademark Law providing for mandatory confiscation of the equipment used to produce counterfeits. But soon, this issue will also be discussed at governmental sessions."

The article contains a table of the most frequently counterfeited trademarks, according to the respondents, in percentage terms.