14 | 06 | 2017

The Action “Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy” held in Šibenik, on 9 June 2017

The joint educational action titled “Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy”, marking also this year’s World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, was held on Friday 9 June 2017 on Trg Republike Hrvatske in Šibenik, organised by competent government authorities and organisations participating in coordination mechanism for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The purpose of this action is to raise the level of public awareness of negative social consequences of counterfeiting and piracy and of the enforcement system of intellectual property rights, of the effects of counterfeiting and piracy on the economy, as well as on citizens’ health and safety. Through the events organised within the action, prize quizzes and information and material made available at the info-point of the action, the organisers instructed citizens on the way how they can protect themselves and whom they can contact for help in case they suspect to have purchased a counterfeit or a pirated product.

The day’s programme involved performances by Mia Dimšić, klapa Maslina (a cappela vocal ensemble) and the Bang Bang group who took part in a discussion with the programme host pointing out to the need of respecting the rights of authors and performers as a basis for encouraging and independent artistic creative activity.

In addition to enjoying excellent music and educational programme, citizens participated in tests of knowledge and recognising the differences between original products and counterfeits with possibility of winning attractive awards.

This action was supported by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and it was jointly organised by competent government authorities and organisations participating in coordination mechanism for the enforcement of intellectual property rights: the State Intellectual Property Office, the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice; associations of intellectual property rights holders: HDS ZAMP (Croatian Composers’ Society), HDU (Croatian Discography Association), HUZIP (Croatian Association for the Protection of Performers’’ Rights), ZAPRAF (Association for Protection, Collection and Distribution of Phonogram Producers’ Rights), IHG (Institute of Croatian Music), BSA, BOA, HGU (Croatian Musicians Union), DHFR (Croatian Film Directors’ Guild), APAW and the National Committee ICC Croatia.

The citizens of Šibenik showed great interest in these issues, especially in information and informative material they searched for at the info-point of the action.