Background on the Situation
In an effort to combat piracy and smuggling, the Mexican federal government, in collaboration with authorities from the Secretariat of Urban Security and Protection (SSPC) and the Navy (Semar), conducted two simultaneous operations in Mexico City. These operations led to the seizure of 11,177 counterfeit Asian products valued at over one million pesos from local stores in shopping malls.
Targeted Stores and Seized Products
The Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) identified counterfeit and illicit goods in two stores: “SHOP JIANG” at Plaza Terrazas Arenal in the Santa María Tepepan neighborhood and “WAWASO” at Gran Sur shopping center. The seized items included pirated perfumes, toys (Lego-like figures, Yeti, imitation Kuromi and Barbie dolls), cosmetics, and more.
Counterfeit Brands and Government Strategy
Among the counterfeited brands are Lego, Sanrio, Hello Kitty, Barbie, and others. The government’s strategy, known as “Operación Limpieza” (Cleaning Operation), aims to protect national industries and employment sources by identifying and combating fraudulent importation and commercialization mechanisms of prohibited goods.
Impact on National Industry and Tax Revenue
These illegal practices not only create unfair competition but also severely affect the national industry and public finances. The Secretariat of Economy (SE) and Hacienda will continue to conduct permanent checks nationwide to prevent the misuse of foreign trade promotion programs.
Recent Successes and Ongoing Efforts
Last week, in collaboration with the Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) and the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), 61,719 plastic dolls were seized at the Lázaro Cárdenas port in Michoacán as part of a national strategy against piracy and smuggling.
Modernizing Intellectual Property Laws
To tackle such illicit activities, the IMPI seeks to modernize the Federal Law of Protection of Industrial Property to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Currently, there is no clear legislation defining whether works created by artificial intelligence can be protected under the industrial property system.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main objective of the “Operación Limpieza” strategy? The primary goal is to protect national industries and employment sources by identifying and combating fraudulent importation and commercialization mechanisms of prohibited goods.
- Which brands were among the counterfeited products seized? Seized counterfeit products included well-known brands such as Lego, Sanrio, Hello Kitty, and Barbie.
- Why is modernizing intellectual property laws important? Modernization aims to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence, as there is currently no clear legislation defining whether works created by AI can be protected under the industrial property system.
- What other recent successes have been achieved in the fight against piracy and smuggling? Last week, 61,719 plastic dolls were seized at the Lázaro Cárdenas port in Michoacán as part of a national strategy against piracy and smuggling.
