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About GACG

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What is the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG) Network?

GACG is an informal network of national and regional IP protection and enforcement organisations which have a strong international dimension to their activities. There are currently 22 Members covering nearly 40 Countries plus direct informal contacts with many more national and industry associations (see links). The objectives are to exchange and share best practices and information, and to participate in appropriate joint activities to solve IPR enforcement challenges through:

  1. Co-ordination, where appropriate, of members’ international activities, especially with relation to international government organisations;

    Achievements:
    Official observer and active participant in the WIPO Advisory Committee on Enforcement; Co-founder and active participant in Interpol IP Crime Action Group; Co-ordination with WCO, WIPO, EU and others; participation in the UNECE Team of Specialists in IP. Co-operation and joint activities with UNICRI – the United Nations Inter-regional Crime and Justice Research Institute; Joint projects on organised crime involvement in counterfeiting and Piracy with UNICRI; GACG and members are leading participants in the new EU Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy.

    Co-ordination and active participation in several training and education seminars, conferences and bilateral meetings, including events and projects with EU, Interpol, WIPO, WHO, OHIM, EPO, The Baltic Council, Chinese Government, Japan Patent Office, Thailand State Intellectual Property Office; South Africa Department of Trade and Industry, Spanish Government. Assessment and Monitoring of IPR2 Project in China.

    Co-ordination of activities and objectives with International Business groups: BASCAP; INTA, AIM, CACP and International Industry Groups: IFPI, MPA, BSA etc.

  2. Research and dissemination of information, and the encouragement of public awareness of the international dimension of the international trade in fakes;

    Achievements
    GACG has been instrumental in establishing and promoting World Anti-Counterfeiting Day as an opportunity to promote public awareness. Several high profile events have been held on this day each year for the past eleven years. Generally related to travel and the international movement of fakes, events and day campaigns by several GACG member groups have considerably added to education and awareness in the UK, USA, France, Italy, Finland, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Canada, and many other countries.

    Instituted in 1999, the annual Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards, jointly administered and sponsored by the GACG, have recognised exceptional work in the international campaign against the trade in fakes by official organisations, rights holders, associations and latterly the media. The process of the awards as well as the presentation events generate a high level of publicity and awareness for the cause.

    CEBR report on the economic impact of fakes in Europe commissioned by the GACG and published in 2000 was an influential piece of research. The was a prime source of justification (and acknowledged as such) for the EU Green Paper and Action plan on combating counterfeiting and piracy in the EU which led to the Council Directive on Civil Enforcement. The UNICRI Report on The Involvement of Organised Crime in the Trade of Dangerous Fakes brought together important facts and information and launched the concept of an international observatory on counterfeiting.

    Establishment of a series of Annual seminar meetings to exchange information and best practices between network members.

  3. Encouragement and fostering of the establishment of national and other anti-counterfeiting groups.

    Achievements
    New groups/members in India, the Ukraine, Norway, Nigeria, Canada, and the USA. New regional members: CIPR (former FSU) and Marques – The Association of European Trade Mark Owners. Active contact with potential candidate organisations in Mexico, Brazil, Gulf states (Dubai), Jordan, Argentina, Vietnam, Morocco, Hungary, Poland, Romania and South Africa.

Current Activities Programme

  1. Joint research and campaigning activities with UNICRI and the EU; Strengthening the network of co-operation between GACG Network member groups and with international government organisations: WIPO, Interpol and the WCO, with particular emphasis on working with the ICC/BASCAP, INTA/ACEC, and AIM a/cc and with other international rights owners’ groups. Further conferences, seminars and events in co-operation with national member groups and other international organisations.
  2. Continue and improve the networking benefits and the awareness and education potential derived from World Anti-Counterfeiting Day and the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Awards. Promote international guidelines on IP enforcement issues; and fully support further joint research into international aspects of the campaign against the trade in fakes. Upgrade and update GACG www and printed/audio visual material.
  3. Increase the effectiveness of the GACG network and benefits of membership (through 1 & 2 above) for all potential members but particularly for new groups in developing countries.