Russian PM rejects anti-counterfeiting plan

The Russian Prime Minister has rejected the idea of forming a body to oversee government anti-counterfeiting activities.

Proponents of the plan say it would meet the need for greater coordination of anti-counterfeiting law enforcement. Yet the idea has little traction with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who dismissed the plan at a recent anti-counterfeiting event, the Moscow Times reports.
 
Instead, Medvedev is planning changes to civil law. Specific details of the changes are yet to emerge but Medvedev stressed the need to consider the burden on industry before tightening legislation.

"The government and civil society must uphold the protection of intellectual property rights on the one hand while stimulating competition and eliminating unreasonable barriers in the market on the other," he said.

Manufacturers want action though. Research commissioned by branded-goods manufacturers association RusBrand valued the Russian counterfeit market at $29bn (€22bn), with vodka, clothes and shoes the most faked items.