25.09.08

The new regime will allow customs officials to detain goods for seven days if they suspect the product to be counterfeit. On the second day, customs must notify the owner of the trademark and the distributor about the detention. Upon request from copyright holder, the product may be detained for an addition three days.

At this time, customs authorities may detain goods only based on copyright holder’s request if the brand is registered in the "special customs register." Amendments will allow customs officers to make their own decisions regarding counterfeit goods using the Rospatent data base. This will increase opportunities to detect counterfeit products. As explained by the head of the Department of Intellectual Property Protection, Sergey Shurigin, the Rospatent data base contains hundreds of times more trademarks compared to customs register.

The government expressed official support for the bill, but suggested adding a more detailed explanation in what circumstances and for how long customs officials may detain goods. This new version takes into account all suggestions.

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Source: “Vedomosti”