MARQUES (the European association of brand owners), in cooperation with Stockholm University and SACG, is pleased to invite you to participate in our forthcoming event dedicated to exploring the latest strategies and practices on IP protection and enforcement from different industry perspectives.

This training programme aims to provide law students with a thorough understanding of the multifaceted world of IP. Participants will gain insights into the various types of IP, explore its applications across different industries, and learn practical legal strategies from experts in the field.

The event will be held on September 23rd, 2024 from 3 to 5 pm at the “Albano” campus of Stockholm University in room “Hörsal 6” and online.

MARQUES has represented the interests of brand owners since 1986. Since that time MARQUES has built an enviable reputation as a highly respected and influential brand owners association.

The Swedish Anti-Counterfeiting Group (SACG), based in Stockholm, has actively worked since its inception in 1997 to bring issues of counterfeiting to the forefront of the agenda for legislators and other decision-makers. SACG’s work primarily involves advocacy, lobbying, drafting referrals and organizing information and training seminars for members and other stakeholders. SACG also collaborates with customs, police, and prosecutors, as well as with other organizations and authorities in the field, and is continuously involved in international efforts against counterfeiting, particularly within the framework of the EU Commission’s Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy.

This forum will bring together stakeholders, brand owners, legal experts and practitioners from various private and public entities to engage in insightful discussions and share best practices from different industries.

Event highlights and speakers:

• SKF (Johan Bravert, Director, Group Brand Protection)

• H&M (Sandra Looft, Legal Counsel)

• Marshall (Ellinor Wilow, Legal Director IP & Brand Protection)

• On (Anna Jakobsson, Global Head of Intellectual Property)

• Philips (Edanela Perez Broce, Senior IP Counsel Trademarks & Designs)

• Essity (Anna Hedberg, Trademark Attorney/Nigar Kirimova, Trademark Attorney)

• Stockholm University (Eleonora Rosati, Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Co-Director of the LLM in European Intellectual Property Law)

• The Swedish Anti-Counterfeiting Group (Anna Bladh Redzic, Partner at Sandart law firm)

Benefits of attending:

• Gain insights: Learn about the latest trends and strategies in IP protection and enforcement.

• Network: Connect with brand owners, industry leaders, legal experts and practitioners.

• Interactive discussions: Participate in open discussions, feel free to ask questions that have always interested you. Deepen and broaden your knowledge and start the Winter-semester with new insights in the field of IP.

To confirm your attendance, please register by 18 September through by email to sandra.looft@hm.com When registering, please indicate whether you will be attending in person or virtually. We encourage you to register early, as spaces are limited.

We look forward to your participation in this enriching and informative event. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The minutes from SACG's annual meeting are now available on our website! The document can be download here.

SACG is thrilled to share that our fellow board member, Ms Jolanda Girzl, recently had the opportunity to be a guest on the Swedish Podcast “Ekonomi på riktigt”.

In the podcast, Jolanda delves into the critical topics of whether counterfeit goods have become normalized in today's society, the impact of consuming such products, and the legal framework and scope surrounding anti-counterfeiting.

Ekonomi På Riktigt: Om Piratkopiering can be accessed on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1AHlVgOSLyI1bUU8VmxLO0?si=2oFcHzv2Q_i0Fef4y6-AUw

Dear all,

The European Commission has recently launched two public consultations.

The first consultation concerns the Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List Report:

• The purpose of this consultation is to identify online service providers and physical marketplaces located outside the European Union that are reported to engage in, facilitate or benefit from substantial IPR infringements, and in particular piracy and counterfeiting.

• Based on the contributions received, the European Commission intends to publish a new version of the report in the second quarter of 2025.

• Contributions to the consultation are possible until 15 August 2024.

• You can find more information here and and you can contribute here.

The second consultation concerns the report on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries:

• The purpose of the consultation is to identify third countries in which the state of intellectual property rights’ protection and enforcement gives rise to the highest level of concern.

• The results will help the Commission to update the list of “priority countries” and to focus its efforts and resources on those countries. Furthermore, the results will help rights holders to identify the potential risks to their IP when doing business in those countries.

• You can send your contributions here by 6 September 2024.

Take the opportunity to make your voice heard by submitting your responses directly through the links or by emailing Ms. Jolanda Girzl at jolanda.girzl@jgconsumerlaw.com

Participants are welcome to join SACG’s Annual General Meeting which will be held on Teams. Please note that the Annual General Meeting will be held in Swedish.

AGENDA FOR SACG’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.       Val av ordförande vid mötet och fastställande av dagordning

2.       Val av två personer att jämte ordföranden justera mötesprotokollet

3.       Styrelsens förvaltningsberättelse

4.       Revisorernas berättelse

5.       Fråga om ansvarsfrihet för styrelsen

6.       Val av styrelse

7.       Val av två revisorer och en revisorssuppleant

8.       Fastställande av årsavgifter i föreningen 

9.       Utseende av valberedning med uppgift att vid nästa årsmöte lämna förslag av styrelseledamöter samt revisorer och revisorssuppleant

10.   Övriga frågor

Bilagor:

Dagordning årsstämma
Förvaltningsberättelse 2023
Balansräkning
Resultaträkning 2023
Revisionsberättelse 2023
Valberedningens förslag inför 2024

DATE: April 23, 2024 (16:00 – 17:00 CET)

VENUE: Rouse Sweden at Sveavägen 24, 111 57, Stockholm

SACG is pleased to announce its forthcoming seminar with Mr. Chris Bailey from Rouse!

Chris is the Head of UK and EU Enforcement for Rouse, having spent 27 years in China managing brand protection programs for IP owners in various industries such as apparel, luxury goods, electronics, automotive, and healthcare.                 

Chris will talk about some of the typical challenges that foreign IP owners face in managing enforcement online, evidence gathering, and handling cases with customs, police and the courts. He will also share some of his experiences with major cross-border cases involving China, and best practices in bridging online and offline enforcement activities.

We are also happy to present the opportunity for participants to submit questions to Chris ahead of the seminar.

The seminar will be followed by a mingle and opportunity to network with our speaker and participants (17:00 – 18:00).  

Kindly confirm your attendance and submit your questions no later than April 20th to: Karin.Soderberg@sandvik.com
It will also be possible to connect online. If you intended to do so, please indicate this in your email confirmation.

Date: April 10th, 2024 (16:00 – 18:00 CET)

Venue: Sandart & Partners Law Firm at Kungsgatan 28A, 111 35 Stockholm

In 2024, the EUIPO Observatory published its report on the economic impact of counterfeit in the clothing, cosmetics, and toy sectors in the EU. The Observatory's study, drawing on data from 2018-2021, found that counterfeit goods not only affect sales but also lead to significant job losses. The clothing sector alone with an estimated reduction of 160 000 jobs, with the cosmetics and toy sectors losing 32 000 and 3 600 jobs, respectively.           

In summary, the report suggests that the EU faces an increasingly pressing issue as counterfeit goods continue to cost the clothing, cosmetics, and toy industries a staggering EUR 16 billion in sales and nearly 200 000 jobs each year. It also discloses the deep economic impact of fake products on these sectors and the serious health and safety issues they pose to consumers.  

SACG welcomes participants and stakeholders into this very current and compelling subject where we will tackle questions such as: how counterfeiting undermines the reputation and integrity of legitimate brands, how transparency in supply chains can help identify and mitigate the risks of counterfeiting, and how counterfeit goods often leads to job losses in the legitimate manufacturing and retail sectors.

The seminar will be followed by a mingle and opportunity to network with our speakers and participants (18:00 – 19:00).   

Main speakers/panelists for the seminar include:

• Gustav melander, Senior legal advisor, Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV)

• Magnus Nikkarinen, Senior  Policy Director Sustainability  at Swedish Commerce (Svensk Handel)

• Staffan Olsson, Head of Public Affairs at GS1 Sweden

• SANDRA LOOFT, Legal Counsel at H&M GBC AB

• Andreas Koschnike, Board member Swedish Commerce Fashion (Svensk Handel Stil) and Director E-commerce of J.Lindeberg 

The panel will also include a representative for a famous clothing company, which will be disclosed in due course.

Kindly confirm your attendance no later than April 8th, 2024 to: inbjudan@sandart.se 

It will also be possible to connect online. Please inform us if you intend to do so.

See you on the 10th of April!

Links to presentations:

PRV - Economic impact of counterfeiting in the clothing, cosmetics, and toy sectors in the EU
GS1 - Global Standards 1
H&M - HM Group and counterfeiting

SACG is pleased to announce its forthcoming webinar on Alibaba’s IPR protection programs and initiatives with Alibaba International!

Our speaker for the webinar is:

Mr. Claudio Bergonzi, Director of IP enforcement at Alibaba International

Alibaba is a multinational conglomerate specializing in e-commerce, digital services and technology. It has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest and most influential e-commerce companies. In 2023, Alibaba reorganized its business into 6 independent companies. E-commerce platforms are now in two separate companies: Alibaba International Digital Commerce (AIDC) for International platforms such as Alibaba.com, AliExress, Lazada, and Miravia, while the Taobao Tmall Group (TTG) is for all domestic platforms (Tmall, Taobao for instance)

Alibaba’s brand protection program rests on four pillars: efficient and effective notice and takedown procedures; proactive identification and removal of IP-infringing listings using advanced technologies; support of law enforcement and rights holders on offline investigations; and robust stakeholder collaboration, including with rights holders, trade associations and government enforcement agencies.

From a rights holder’s perspective, we may ask ourselves how Alibaba’s commitments work in the increasing digital and AI age, and how Alibaba’s cooperation with law enforcement and rights holders actually work in practice? These are some of the few touch points that will be raised during this event together with other practical insights that will be shared by Mr. Claudio Bergonzi.

We are also happy to present the opportunity for participants to submit questions to Mr. Claudio Bergonzi before the seminar. However, some of those questions could be addressed in a follow-up since there is a limited time ahead of the webinar. There will also be an opportunity to raise questions during the seminar. 

Kindly confirm your attendance and submit your questions no later than February 12th to: Karin.Soderberg@sandvik.com

December 7, 2023

Agenda:

16:00 – 18:00: Seminar and Panel discussion

18:00: Mingle and networking

Location: Schjødt Law Firm, Hamngatan 27, Stockholm, Sweden

Join us for a seminar that delves into a very current and compelling subject where environmental consciousness meets the battle against counterfeit goods. Our distinguished panel of speakers, representing the industry, customs authorities, the Patent and Registration Office and the Swedish trade organization, will provide diverse perspectives on the concerted efforts to prevent the trade of counterfeit goods.

The seminar will explore into the following topics:

Recycling Revolution: explore the evolving landscape of recycling and sustainable practices. Invited industry experts will shed light on the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities in recycling, emphasizing the role of businesses and consumers in fostering a more sustainable future.

Second-Hand Shops as Agents of Change: hear about the significant role played by second-hand shops in promoting a circular economy. Learn how these establishments contribute to reducing waste, promoting reusability, and creating a positive impact on both the environment and society.

Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies: customs authorities and industry leaders will share insights into the ongoing battle against counterfeit goods. Gain a deeper understanding of the sophisticated techniques employed by criminals, and discover the collaborative efforts between authorities and businesses to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of brands.

Perspectives from the Swedish Trade Organization: the Swedish Trade Organization will provide a national perspective, discussing the regulatory landscape, policy initiatives, and collaborative approaches that contribute to the prevention of counterfeit goods within the country.
Main speakers/panelists for the seminar include:

Peter Hedin, PRV

Magnus Nikkarinen, Svensk Handel

Per Holgersson, Tullverket

Emelie Johansson & Stina Ljungqvist, Erikshjälpen

Our moderators for the seminar are:

Jolanda Girzl, Svensk Handel

Gustav Melander, PRV

Hope to see you there!

Kindly confirm your attendance no later than December 5th to: sandra.looft@hm.com

It will also be possible to connect online. Please inform us if you intend to do so

Links to the presentations:

Peter Hedin - Swedish Patents and Registration Office (PRV)
Per Holgersson - Swedish Customs Austhority (Tullverket)
Magnus Nikkanen, Svensk Handel
Emelie Johansson och Stina Ljungkvist, Erikshjälpen

The audio recordings from the seminar can be obtained by emailing Sandra.Loof@hm.com and Karin.Soderberg@sandvik.com

Vi vill uppmärksamma våra medlemmar på att det har skett uppdateringar kring Ansökan om ingripande mot piratkopior (AFA) som Tullverket vill informera om.

Kommissionen vill under 2024 göra det obligatoriskt att hantera alla ansökningar om ingripande elektroniskt (e-AFA). Detta innebär att alla AFA som lämnas in i Sverige, förlängningar och ändringar av befintliga AFA, ska göras elektroniskt via EUIPO:s IP Enforcement Portal (IPEP - www.ipenforcementportal.eu). Det är fortfarande oklart när exakt AFA i pappersformat inte längre kan godtas. Tullverket förordar dock att de rättighetshavare och juridiska ombud som vill lämna in en AFA i Sverige använder sig av IPEP redan nu och bekantar sig med portalen eftersom AFA i pappersformat kommer att fasas ut snart.

Vi skickar länken till kommissionens pressmeddelande https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/intellectual-property-rights-ipr-transition-mandatory-use-electronic-applications-action-eafas-2023-10-16_en  där ni kan hitta detaljerade hänvisningar om hur man skapar ett konto i IPEP, fyller i och lämnar in en e-AFA i IPEP lämnar in e-AFA via IPEP. Vid funderingar kring dessa frågor rekommenderar Tullverket att man tar kontakt med IPEP-teamet direkt: ipenforcementportal@euipo.europa.eu.