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The campaign will incorporate powerful visuals backed by a hard-hitting message: “Fake Watches are for Fake People.” |
SWITZERLAND. The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry have joined forces to launch a global anti-counterfeiting campaign that will raise public awareness of the damage caused.
Trade in pirate and counterfeit goods amounts to US$200 billion to US$360 billion a year, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie noted.
Despite the many efforts made, the problem of counterfeiting and piracy “continues to wreak havoc on virtually every economy worldwide, and is expanding rapidly through multiple distribution channels, especially online”, according to the Fondation.
Announcing the campaign, the organisation explained the consequences of this “global scourge”. “How many people bring back a fake Rolex among their holiday souvenirs? And yet behind what may seem like a harmless purchase is a huge parallel market, where child labour, money laundering and disregard for human rights are rife,” it said.
“Counterfeiting is theft,” the Fondation continued. “Counterfeiters steal the expertise, creativity and image which a brand has acquired through continued effort and investment.”
The anti-counterfeiting campaign was unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2009 and will take the form of powerful visuals backed by a simple, hard-hitting message: “Fake Watches are for Fake People.”
The campaign will be rolled out in the international media that are supporting this initiative. “The time has come to challenge this plague on innovative, socially-responsible, high-tech businesses,” concluded the Fondation.
MORE STORIES ON THE FEDERATION OF THE SWISS WATCH INDUSTRY
Swiss watch exports set new record in 2008 – 27/02/09
Swiss watch exports reach record high in 2005 – 03/02/06
MORE STORIES ON ANTI-COUNTERFEITING
TFWA to host anti-counterfeiting summit in Cannes – 03/10/08
Louis Vuitton and Sony BMG reach settlement in battle over intellectual property rights – 01/08/08
eBay found guilty of “˜gross misconduct’ towards LVMH in landmark counterfeit ruling – 01/07/08
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