Canon Europe joins forces with the European Union and ACG
to stamp out counterfeiting
LONDON August 8th, 2003
Canon Europe, leading provider of imaging technology solutions,
has joined forces with the European Union and the Anti-Counterfeit
Group, one of the leading anti-counterfeiting organisations
in the world, to campaign against black-market trade and raise
consumer awareness about the dangers and the 'real' costs of
counterfeit products.
The trade in counterfeit goods in the European Union has seen
a 900% increase in the amount of products coming into the European
Union in the last five years (*1). As
counterfeiting techniques have become more sophisticated, the
type of consumer goods being counterfeited has also diversified
from fake jeans, perfume and CDs to include pharmaceutical products,
industrial machinery and electronic consumer goods. Virtually
anything with a brand name is a target.
John Anderson, Director General of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group,
said, "Our main objective is to raise awareness of the economic
and social impact that black-market trade has throughout Europe.
We need to raise awareness about the costs to consumers and
the costs to businesses and also about the responsibility of
governments to work with businesses, such as Canon, to stamp
this problem out at its source and put the organised criminals
who are behind this trade behind bars."
A recent declaration on piracy and counterfeiting
(*2) by the European Parliament has also helped to bring
the issue of counterfeiting to the fore. Arlene McCarthy, Member
of the European Parliament, said, "Counterfeiting and Piracy
undermines intellectual property for businesses and poses real
risks for consumer health and safety. The support for our recent
declaration on piracy and counterfeiting in the European Union
has been huge and we will continue to combine our efforts with
businesses and governments across borders to ensure existing
and forthcoming laws are strengthened, enforced and policed
in the current and extended European Union in the battle to
defeat counterfeiting."
Canon Europe has decided to speak out on this issue to highlight
to consumers the risks of buying counterfeit goods or cheap
cameras which appear to be genuine Canon products following
interceptions by customs and police of more than 20,000 cameras
throughout Europe.
James Leipnik, Chief of Communication and Corporate Relations,
Canon Europe, said, "Canon is concerned about protecting the
rights of the consumer who is the number one victim. Fake goods
may sometimes seem like a bargain but there are always hidden
dangers for consumers. The person who sells you a fake won't
be around to help if it doesn't work properly; fakes don't come
with guarantees. Only the genuine article can offer a good deal."
Canon Europe urges consumers to buy Canon cameras and equipment
only from reputable dealers and retail outlets. For a full list
of approved Canon stockists and distributors in the UK go to:
http://www.canon.co.uk/Where_to_buy/index.asp
*1 Statistics taken from EU Institutions press
release 'Customs: Counterfeiting and piracy in 2001', issued
from Brussels, 26 July 2002
*2 'Declaration on the Fight Against Piracy and Counterfeiting
in the Enlarged EU' adopted by the European Parliament, 5 June
2003
Further Information
EUROPEAN COMMISSION STATISTICS ON COUNTERFEITING From www.europa.eu.int
• The European Commission estimates that 17,000 legitimate
jobs are lost annually through piracy and counterfeiting in
the EU ·
• Between 1998 and 2001 the volume of pirated goods intercepted
by EU customs increased almost 10-fold
• The EC estimates that the small and medium firms are
the ones who are losing more business to counterfeiters
• In the UK alone, counterfeiting and piracy cost UK industry
over £8.5 billion in 2001. (This is the equivalent to approximately
£1.5 billion lost VAT)
• The EC is currently proposing new laws to stop counterfeit
goods being smuggled in to the EU and to strengthen the enforcement
of intellectual property rights throughout its territory
About Canon (UK) Limited
Canon is a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging and
information technology solutions for both home and office environments.
Canon has a global philosophy of Kyosei - living and working
together for the common good, which clearly demonstrates commitment
to customers, staff and the environment shared by all.
Canon (UK) Ltd is the UK marketing and sales operation for the
US$24 billion global company based in Tokyo, Japan. In the UK
Canon employs over 2,500 people in various locations including
Ireland and has achieved sales of £505m in 2002.
Canon (UK) Ltd's main activity is in two clearly defined markets:
Business Solutions (IT network consultation and peripherals:
photocopiers, printers, faxes, document scanners and multimedia
LCD projectors) and
Consumer Imaging (input solutions: film and digital cameras,
camcorders, binoculars and scanners; and output solutions: Bubble
Jet printers and desktop multifunctionals).
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