Counterfeit Goods Within Reach of 'Trade'... Intellectual Property Protection a Priority
Following its extensive campaigns last week, sources confirmed to Al-Siyasa that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will launch a campaign through intensified inspection tours to regulate markets and pursue commercial fraud, with the aim of eradicating the phenomenon of counterfeit products that violate intellectual property rights protection laws. The ministry emphasized that its efforts in the coming period will focus on preventing violations of the intellectual property rights of global companies, as well as preserving Kuwait’s reputation and standing in international rankings related to combating commercial fraud.
The sources clarified that the products most susceptible to counterfeiting include watches with global brands, clothing and footwear, car spare parts, and many other products. They noted that the ministry carries out its supervisory role in combating commercial fraud and counterfeit goods through inspection teams deployed across all governorates of Kuwait, especially since possessing, displaying, or selling counterfeit products constitutes a clear violation of intellectual property rights and trademark protection laws.
The ministry stressed that trademark counterfeiting amounts to forgery and a legal offense, noting that such forgery occurs when a person forges a registered trademark or uses a fake trademark in bad faith to mislead the public, whether by imitating the name, logo, or shape of the mark, thereby deceiving consumers and causing confusion.
He stated that penalties for trademark counterfeiting are extremely strict, ranging from imprisonment for a period between one month and three years, or imposing a fine starting at 385 Kuwaiti dinars and reaching up to 77,000 dinars, depending on the nature of the criminal act, or applying either of these two penalties.
The ministry called for the necessity of distinguishing between two concepts often confused by many consumers and business owners. It explained that a trade name is the official registered name of the establishment or commercial enterprise license, whereas a trademark is defined as the logo, word, or visual symbol that an employer places on its product to enable consumers to identify the quality and source of the goods simply by viewing it.
