Counterfeit bicycle makers beware

Brand abusing counterfeit bike makers are a blight on the global cycle trade but now the industry has joined forces to take them on, via the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI).

WFSGI, cooperating with Convey Srl (www.convey.it), has launched a project to ‘efficiently and proactively’ combat internet-related counterfeit offerings and brand abuses encountered by WFSGI members and committed by third parties.

Robbert de Kock, secretary general of the WFSGI, said: “It is since many years the WFSGI’s aims to tackle counterfeits, as it represents both a severe threat for the health and safety of the consumer and a huge loss for the image, the goodwill and the business related to the trademarks and products of our members"

"The growing internet platforms make the fight against trademark violations and counterfeit products more challenging then 15 years ago and with our Convey agreement we are convinced to fight with equal."

The project’s prime objectives are:

• To discover and analyse the existing online threats for brands covering domain name abuses, illegal offerings and counterfeit product sales on third-party operated online platforms.
• To remove counterfeit offerings from the major e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces and to permanently banish the respective operators and sellers; which represents both a severe threat for the health and the safety of customers and a huge risk for the image and the goodwill of Trademarks
• To shut down rogue websites and regain control of abusive domain names used and registered by third-party operators
• To safeguard trademarks and to secure new domain name registrations in connection with the release of the new generic Top Level Domains, which are now starting to be released.

The Project will offer four different kinds of services.

• Preliminary screenings of the actual online situation of the respective WFSGI member;
• Enforcement activities to remove counterfeit offerings from the most prominent and dangerous online marketplaces;
• Enforcement activities to shut down abusive websites and to regain control of hijacked or otherwise illegally used domain names;
• Safeguarding of new domain names in view through the registration of trademarks owned by WFSGI members at the newly established ‘Trademark Clearinghouse’.

WFSGI member companies joining the Project will benefit of preferential and favorable rates. According to the Federation, more than 10 brands are already in close contact with Convey. Michele Provera, VP Internet Brand Protection at CONVEY, said: “The companies who have joined the project are experiencing concrete results already. More than 10,000 of illegal listings have already been removed in less than three months of activities.”

WFSGI members interested should contact Michele Provera michele.provera@convey.it. Provera will also stage at the World Sports Forum by WFSGI at ISPO Munich, this Saturday (January 25 2014 at 14h00)

To become a member of WFSGI contact Yves Möri ymoeri@wfsgi.org.