Counterfeit Goods

HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 cc97-8W

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the extent of the trade in counterfeit goods in the north west; and if she will make a statement. [23997]

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has not made an assessment of the extent of the trade in counterfeit goods in the north west, but shares my hon. Friend's concern regarding the trade in counterfeit goods.

Trading Standards Officers and the Police are responsible for the enforcement of measures against the counterfeit trade. However, my Department is in regular contact with groups representing the interests of trade mark and copyright owners to ensure that the legal framework is supportive of their efforts.

Some information on the extent of counterfeit trade is available from the annual returns provided by Trading Standards departments.

From the 133 reports	Successful prosecutions
received for 1996–97	Total	North West
Trade Mark Acts 1994	217	41
Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts	91	17

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the extent of the counterfeit trade in automotive and aerospace spare parts. [23999]

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has not made an assessment of the extent of the trade in counterfeit goods specifically in the North West, but shares my hon. Friend's concern regarding the trade in counterfeit goods.

Trading Standards Officers and the Police are responsible for the enforcement of measure against counterfeit trade contained in the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Copyright, Patents and Designs Act 1988. Information from the annual returns provided by trading standards departments for 1996–97 show that there were 217 successful prosecutions under the Trade Marks Act and 91 successful prosecutions under the Copyright. Patents and Designs Acts.

No cases were reported involving automotive or aerospace parts and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group were not able to supply data on this either.