The Brand Owners Protection Group (BPG), in a major step in its ongoing battle against the violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), has formed strategic alliances with Dubai Customs and two giant Intellectual Property organisations in the world.

The two global organsiations are China-based Quality Brands Protection Committee (QBPC) and Japan’s International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF).

Established in 2000, the QBPC is a growing industry-based coalition composed of more than 180 multinational companies focused on anti-counterfeiting activities.

The QBPC's mission is to work in close co-operation with the Chinese central and local governments, local industries and other organizations to make positive contributions towards the protection of Intellectual Property rights in the People’s Republic of China.

The IIPPF was established in 2002 and is comprised by approximately 85 organizations and associations and 93 companies.

The Forum provides a platform through which members convene to voice their opinions on the problems faced by the industrial world, particularly those relating to IPR violations, and take concerted actions together with domestic and foreign governmental agencies.

Dubai Customs on the other hand is a strong supporter of fair trade practices by identifying and addressing non-compliance with the common Customs law of the GCC.

Their responsibility extends to the people and businesses of Dubai and international agencies like World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO). They ensure that international conventions and agreements are strictly followed by the trade community.

'On both the national and global level, the BPG today further strengthened its ties and co-operation with Dubai Customs, the QBPC and IIPPF to combat counterfeiting of goods and other IPR violations by signing a MoU with each organisation,' said Omar Shteiwi, chairman of the Board of the BPG and Regional Intellectual Property advisor of Nestlé Middle East.

'We cannot combat counterfeits alone; all stakeholders including the public and private sectors must play an active role.'

'This alliance marks yet another success for the BPG in reaching out to national and global organisations engaged in the same activities and shall boost the exchange and transfer of knowledge, information, experience and expertise through co-organised IP-related events that will strengthen anti-counterfeiting measures in the UAE, China, and Japan,' he added.

Yousuf Ozair, senior manager of Intellectual Property Rights Department at Dubai Customs signed the MOU with Jack Chang, QBPC chairman and senior intellectual property counsel for General Electric Asia, and Kuniyasu Funaki, chief executive officer of the Japan External Trade Relations Organisation – Dubai & Mena and acting secretariat of the IIPPF.

Ozair dubbed the agreement as a step forward on the road to combating piracy and protecting brands and their legal owners.

'This also highlights the strategic alliances that have been previously forged with the Brand Owners Protection Group.'

'The Department has achieved great success against counterfeit products by seizing numerous smuggled contraband items, and thus, its efforts have been massively praised by various international customs and trade organizations as well as major international manufacturing companies,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service