EFTTA secures new Chinese support against copyists

Companies that illegally copy products are the targets of bold new measures agreed by EFTTA and the organisers of China Fish. The agreement means Chinese factories that make copies will be exposed publicly on the China Fish website. A second measure will make it much harder for unproven Chinese factories to exhibit at shows run by China Fish, bringing its rules in line with those that govern EFTTEX.

The agreement has delighted EFTTA CEO Jean-Claude Bel, who has announced it as a victory for members who invest in the development of new products – and protect those products properly.

Says Jean-Claude Bel: “There is light at the end of the tunnel for companies fighting international copyists. We have to be honest and say that 95% of copycat products in our industry originate in Chinese factories – and most of it through customer requests. That is why my meeting was so significant, and why I am so pleased to have secured renewed support in EFTTA’s fight against IPR infringements.

“In the future Chinese factories can exhibit at China Fish only once they have proved a level of good practice over a longer period of time. This brings China Fish in line with the same rules that govern EFTTEX,” he adds.

“I also warmly welcome the news that, with the support of the Government, China Fish will publish a ‘black list’ of those companies that do not show good practices in terms of IPR, copies of patents and counterfeit products. This list will be available to EFTTA members by a link on the China Fish website, and of course all those companies will be banned from any trade show organised by EFTTA or China Fish, and I hope soon from every other trade show in the world.”

But, adds Jean-Claude Bel, to take advantage of these new measures, European manufacturers need to take out protection on their products.
“I can not stress enough that companies have to play their parts too,” he warns. “Only patents, trade marks and models officially registered can be protected in this way. It is your choice not to give protection to your products but if you don’t, you are presenting an open door to the copyists.
“It is up to manufacturers to play their part and take advantage of the big steps we are taking as show organisers.”

Read Jean-Claude Bel’s latest column in the October issue of Angling International magazine.