PIRACY AND COUNTERFEITING

Fake products cause financial damage and endanger people

Counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations cost the global automotive industry approximately $12 billion per year, according to MEMA, a global automotive trade association.

Pirate, reverse engineered and look-alike products risk more than the brand’s reputation. Counterfeit goods harm the financial integrity and competitiveness of national and regional economies. Fake products hurt individual businesses that have invested for years in research and development, and manufacturing facilities.

Commercial owners and operators who knowingly or unwittingly use counterfeit parts are running illegitimate risks such as impairing vehicle performance, compromising reliability, reducing safety and lessening the life of vehicle systems, components and parts.

Counterfeit products increase repair expenses, inflate operating costs and damage business reputations, among other negative consequences. Low cost, poor quality materials often combine with unreliable assembly or inferior fittings to create counterfeit products that put lives at risk: drivers, passengers, fellow motorists and the general public.

WABCO Wins Criminal Conviction Against Counterfeit Supplier in Dubai

WABCO works within its trade associations

• Promoting industry awareness of the value of branded and genuine products
• Supporting anti-counterfeiting organizations to share information and reinforce best practices against illegitimate activities in order to protect genuine products
• Raising awareness among regulators and the media regarding public safety risks, incidences and financial impact of counterfeiting and intellectual property right violations

WABCO’s brand protection program

• Active use of patent processes to protect our technology, systems and products
• Upgraded packaging to make it more difficult to copy
• Regular monitoring of tradeshows and influencing event organizers to remove counterfeit products and their representatives from exhibitions
• Selection of distributors and service centers who do not sell or fit counterfeit products
• Vigilant and successful investigations and prosecutions of companies and individuals in any country where they have infringed our brand, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights

For more information on the counterfeit activities find the related info on the websites of our Trade associations and Partners

• INTA (International Trademark Association)
• MEMA (Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association)
• CLEPA (European association of Automotive suppliers)
• UNIFAB (The French Association of Manufacturers )
• VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie – German Automotive Industry Association)
• APM (Aktionskreis gegen Produkt- und Markenpiraterie e.V.)
• TECCOM (TecIdentify: authentication platform for products with the CLEPA security code).