Protection Against Counterfeiting – Who Can Really Help?

The issue of counterfeiting has become more important with the increase of piracy and the import of goods from emerging markets suspected of breaching intellectual property rights. In the Czech Republic, how a per son endangered by counterfeit products can tackle the situation depends on whether the counterfeit products include intellectual property rights.

If intellectual property is included and the counterfeited goods are imported, the situation should be resolved under Act No. 191/1999 Coll. on measures related to the import, export and re-export of goods infringing some intellectual property rights (the Counterfeiting Act). If the goods come from "local" production, the action against the counterfeiters is governed by Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on Protection of Consumers (the Act on Protection of Consumers).