Convenio contra la entrada de Mercancía Ilegal al País

Convenio contra la entrada de Mercancía Ilegal al País

Gilberto Macias (@gmaciasb)   March 02, 2010   No comments:

El Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) y la Asociación de Agentes Aduanales del Aeropuerto de México, A.C. (AAADAM) refrendaron el Convenio de Cooperación y Coordinación que mantienen desde el 2009.

El interés de ambas instituciones por refrendar este convenio nace del creciente comercio internacional de mercancía pirata que, de acuerdo con el estudio de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OECD) sobre el Impacto Económico de la Falsificación y la Piratería, en el 2005 ascendió a $200 billones de dólares.

Durante el acto, Jorge Amigo explicó que "la labor que realizan los Agentes Aduanales es de suma importancia, como coadyuvantes de las autoridades y asesores de los importadores, por lo que es necesario que conozcan la legislación aplicable en materia de propiedad intelectual y, sobre todo, su observancia en nuestro país”.

Entre los objetivos planteados en el convenio IMPI-AAADAM se encuentran:

• El desarrollo de programas conjuntos para la colaboración en actividades de consultoría, y desarrollo de cursos, seminarios, conferencias y simposiums, orientados a difundir la propiedad intelectual.


• Asesorías y Concientización en Materia de Propiedad Intelectual.


• Un programa de capacitación en materia aduanera.

El texto completo del comunicado de prensa aquí.

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Chile: Counterfeiting and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Chile: Counterfeiting and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Gilberto Macias (@gmaciasb)   January 27, 2010   No comments:

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed on January 11, 2010, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) access agreement and thus enabled Chile to become the second Latin American country to be accepted as a member of this prestigious international organization.

One of the OECD’s concerns is related to the negative externalities that counterfeiting and piracy are generating on international trade, and more specifically on companies, governments and consumers. In this sense, it should be noted that these wrong doings have gained public awareness and are no longer considered exclusively as a problematic enforcement matter for trademark owners from the private sector.

According to OECD, counterfeiting and piracy harm not only companies by diminishing the economic value of their trademarks, but also have a staggering impact on governments that face lower tax revenues and increasing costs for dealing with informal trade and organized crime.

Likewise, these infringements are a constant threat for consumers, who put at risk their health and personal assets when acquiring fake goods mainly from the pharmaceutical, electrical and tobacco industries.

Moreover, the OECD also promotes the notion of Corporate Social Responsibility, so that companies should be concerned not only in regards to the needs of their clients and employees, but also in connection with other public issues, such as the adverse impact that counterfeiting triggers among consumers in different markets.

Consequently, it seems quite straightforward to argue that the incorporation of Chile to the OECD is not only a great opportunity for the government and Chilean companies, but also for foreign companies based in Chile that will qualitatively improve their Corporate Social Responsibility if they continue collaborating with our country’s efforts to reduce counterfeiting and piracy.

Prepared by Rafael Pastor (Abogado de Baker & McKenzie – Cruzat, Ortuzar & MacKenna Ltda. –, Chile), posted by Gilberto.

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Mexico: OECD recommends science secretariat

Mexico: OECD recommends science secretariat

Patricia Covarrubia   January 13, 2010   No comments:

As you might have heard, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) is an organisation that unites different governments around the world (currently 31 members). The aim is to support and to raise their economic growth. Hence, the OECD is observant of matters such as trade, environment, agriculture, technology, taxation, among others. It collects data and also monitors and analyses the country’s economic development.

The OECD recommended that Mexico should create a new secretariat which will enhance scientific development and innovation in the country. This suggest dividing the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) and transforming the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. The measure is proposed due to a mixture of distorted policies.

Added to this, last September, during his latest visit to Mexico, the secretary general of the world organization, the Mexican Jose Angel Gurría, presented the government of President Calderon, "Studies of the OECD Innovation Policy. Mexico ". He explained that the country’s low productivity and loss of competitiveness is due to low investment in technology and research. It also calls for reforming the National System of Researchers (SNI) due to low productivity which is measured by the number of research publications and patents registered in the country.

With both Chile and Mexico as members, and the ever closer co-operation with Brazil, the OECD has substantially strengthened its links with Latin America.

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