The Role Of ACC-Nigeria In Fighting Counterfeiting.

ANTI-COUNTERFEITING COLLABORATION NIGERIA (ACC)

The world economy is increasingly driven by technology and advancements, and intellectual property (IP) plays an increasingly central role in achieving this.

The anticounterfeiting day is celebrated annually on the 8^th of June globally. This year’s event was commemorated by the Anti-counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC) Nigeria, with the theme “IP and Design as Essential Factors of Innovation and Creativity. On the 9^th of June 2021, the ACC, Nigeria held a joint live Facebook session with the U.S. Mission, Nigeria, to educate the masses on IP protection, innovations, inventions, and creations. The ACC Nigeria representatives were also at the NTA24 live on the program “Nigeria Today”, on 17^th June 2021, to share on the activities of the ACC Nigeria, the impact of counterfeiting to the nation, and the dangers of counterfeiting to all stakeholders, especially on the online space today.

ACC Nigeria is a non-governmental, not- for- profit coalition which was formed in October 2006 as a pressure group to assist in the reform of intellectual property and related laws in Nigeria. The aim of the ACC is to bring brand owners, regulatory agencies, interest groups and the public together to fight against counterfeiting, infringement, and piracy in Nigeria.

ACC’s Objectives

Since inception, ACC, Nigeria has carried out its objectives through collaboration with government regulatory agencies, its foreign partners within and outside Nigeria, brand owners, law firms, individuals, and other interested stakeholders. The objectives therefore include but not limited to the following:

• To create awareness of the importance of effective intellectual property protection; to prevent counterfeiting, infringement and piracy of all goods and services in Nigeria.

• To disseminate knowledge and information about counterfeiting, infringement and piracy, and ways of combating it in order to raise public awareness about the problem as well as to educate and inform.

• To facilitate the introduction of effective measures to reduce and eradicate counterfeiting, infringement, and piracy, through co-operation of governmental agencies and law enforcement officers in Nigeria.

• To encourage brand owners to enter into joint initiatives and information sharing to report and assist each other in protecting their intellectual property rights.

• Sharing best practices on fight against counterfeit products.

• Meet to discuss trials, triumphs and plan future action.

• Promoting intellectual property law reform through public and private sector participation.

• To facilitate initiatives to support Government agencies to increase raids, searches, seizures and destruction of counterfeit goods.

• To promote intellectual property law reform in Nigeria and to ensure that legislation is updated and comparable to international legislation, providing greater protection of intellectual property rights.

• To participate and support programs aimed at educating the Nigerian judiciary and regulatory officers in respect of intellectual property matters.

• In pursuing its objectives, the ACC will always seek to complement rather than replicate the existing services and efforts provided by its members and government agencies.

ACC’s activities and achievements include:

1. ACC works with the US Consulate in Nigeria, NAFDAC, SON both of whom ACC has an MOU.

• ACC holds its yearly Roundtable in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA), and was recently elected to the board of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG).

• ACC marks the world anti- counterfeiting day annually with public engagements through Press conferences via National TV, Radio and Printing Press.

• MOU led training for field officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, and other LEAs (law enforcement Agencies) such as NAFDAC, SON, and former CPC (now FCCPC).

• Sponsored international training for NAFDAC leadership.

• ACC’s Anti-Malaria Campaign which was carried out in collaboration with the US Consulate in Nigeria, was aimed at targeting children and youth, thus making them aware of the dangers of counterfeits at an early age.

ACC’s numerous activities over the last ten years include but not limited to the following:

• Walk the Talk Campaign.

• Say No to Fake Campaign.

• Capacity Building through the annual roundtable with INTA.

• The ongoing country wide training of the Nigerian Customs Service in Nigeria, the 1^st quarter training for 2021 was concluded on 14^th and 15^th April 2021. The training centred on “State of Affairs with Recent Border Opening and Support Deficit from Customs”, and “How to Better Collaborate to Secure the Nations IPR Investments in the future”.

• ACC continues to work in partnership with international organisations, as well as local associations to train the Judges in Nigeria. On the 21^st and 22^nd of October 2020, the ACC in collaboration with the WIPO, INTA, US Consulate organised an Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Enforcement Virtual Workshop for Nigeria Judicial Officers with the theme, “Fraudulent Medicines and Intellectual Property Crimes in the Digital Economy: A Judicial Officer’s Approach”.

The secretariat of ACC is managed by the Law Firm of Aluko & Oyebode. Membership is open to all except counterfeiters, infringers, and pirates.

The theme of the world anti-counterfeiting day for this year is “IP and Design as Essential Factors of Innovation and Creativity. It is a known fact that intellectual property protection is crucial for the growth of any organisation, entity, and indeed country. This is the reason creatives, innovators and inventors must take their IP right protection seriously and take proactive steps towards protection and fight against counterfeiting.

Watch the vidoe here.