Countering the fakes

Brand and IP owners, security solutions providers, and suppliers to the packaging and converting industry can benefit from a special forum for information exchange and networking. The fifth annual international Product Authentication and Brand Security Conference (PABS 08 North America), to be held in Chicago, Illinois, US, on September 11 and 12, 2008, aims to bring together experts from many disciplines to discuss the main issues, the legal aspects, strategies, and technology that contribute to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.

It is being organised by AWA Conferences & Events in association with the Brand Protection Alliance (BPA) and the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM Global). PABS 08 North America is additionally supported and sponsored by CACP (Coalition against Counterfeiting and Piracy), NASPO (North American Security Organization), the Brand Protection Council (BPC), and the International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), together with leading technology suppliers and media.

The conference programme focuses on issues, challenges, and solutions, as well as emerging brand protection opportunities. The formal agenda opens with presentations defining and discussing the role of associations in the fight against IP theft from Mike O’Neil, chairman of NASPO and Rob Calia, director, domestic programs for the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center.

Special film screening

An unusual feature for a conference programme is a special screening of the new National Geographic film ‘Illicit: The Dark Trade’, based on the bestselling book by Dr Moises Naim, editor of Foreign Policy magazine. The film is a hard hitting exposé of the vast international criminal system behind counterfeit consumer goods.

The film is followed by an examination of action in this arena at government level, with updates from the US Customs and Border Patrol and the Commercial Service Exporter Support Program of the US Department of Commerce.

The keynote PABS 08 presentation focuses on the US Justice Department’s efforts to protect intellectual property rights in a paper delivered by C Graham Gerst, Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General and Vice Chair of the US DOJ Intellectual Property Task Force.

Panel discussions

Parallel specialist panel discussion sessions aim to give delegates a valuable opportunity to learn from, and discuss with, brand owners and suppliers about key topics in specific markets.

On safeguarding the healthcare supply chain, delegates will hear from speakers from Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson LifeScan. Motorola’s global brand protection manager will join the discussion on challenges and current actions against counterfeiting in the consumer goods sector. Coca-Cola’s trademark attorney will share the company’s experiences in securing the food and beverage supply chain. The world’s largest optical retailer, Luxottica Retail, will address the retail supply chain.

Practical solutions

The programme moves on to practical solutions, following a testimonial on the real world impact of counterfeit products from Prof Rick Roberts of the University of San Francisco. The resources a brand owner needs to build a world class brand protection programme are examined by Ken Branch of Latitude 49 Security Assurance Systems while Attorney Don deKieffer of deKieffer & Horgan looks at legal remedies for the attacked brand owner.

Following a ‘supplier forum’ featuring short company presentations from key players in the product authentication and brand security industry, the conference closes with an AIM Global technology session looking at automatic identification in brand authentication, and demonstrating how a leading global brand owner protects its customers and its products with automatic identification technologies.

The formal conference is complemented by a tabletop and mini exhibition and extensive networking opportunities, including a cocktail reception hosted by the BPA.