CACN Proposes Federal Office of Counterfeiting, Piracy and Fraud
November 26, 2016
The Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network (CACN) has proposed the federal government establish an Office of Counterfeiting, Piracy and Fraud, focused on Canadian issues related to education and enforcement of counterfeiting, piracy and fraud.
CACN is a coalition of individuals, businesses and associations that have united in the fight against counterfeiting, fraud and copyright piracy in Canada.
In a letter to the National Cyber Security Directorate, CACB suggests that the goal of the proposed office would be an ongoing rapid response and coordination mechanism against counterfeits, piracy and fraud. The office would provide a space for the Canadian public and industry to collaborate and coordinate with the federal government.
This coordination is needed to combat sophisticated fraud in the online environment, says the CACN. Canadian companies are also developing and adapting to emerging technologies and can advise the government on the changing conditions in which they operate. An office will allow the government to implement tangible and timely measures to combat online pirates and counterfeiters and advocate new best practices to protect Canadians from cyber incidents eroding their trust in the security and safety of online transactions.
Specifically, the office would protect Canadian consumers, science and innovators with
1. intelligence. Identifying the problem in real time — an open federal office to allow the public, rights holders, trade associations, law enforcement and government agencies to report and identify problems in real time
2. rapid response and enforcement — coordinating a rapid federal response and law enforcement to ensure public safety, the protection of innovators and creators, and a healthy economy by ensuring Canadian consumers can trust the security of online transactions
3. education — laying the foundation for partnerships between industry and law enforcement agencies to provide education among them and the public through training and public service announcements about real time harms and threats to public safety
Responsibility for counterfeit goods and piracy in Canada is now divided among many federal departments, including Public Safety, Industry, Health, Finance, and the RCMP. In this climate, crime and fraud are allowed to proliferate to the detriment of Canadian science and innovation, the safety and security of Canadians, and the economy at large.
International examples of similar offices include the U.S. National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), and the U.K. Action Fraud National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Unit.
The global scale of trademark counterfeiting continues to grow each year and involves the production and sale of a vast range of fake items. Counterfeited goods, including capacitors, wire cabling, electronics, chemicals, and automotive and aircraft parts, are just a few of the industries affected. These goods make their way from source countries directly to purchasers through the ease of online purchases and a global delivery network.
There is a heightened risk of such products proliferating countries reported to have ineffective or inadequate IPR enforcement systems.
