Counterfeiters will face criminal charges and imprisonment: Sheikh Nimr

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Consumers can file complaints about counterfeit goods

KUWAIT CITY, July 31: Assistant Undersecretary for International Organizations and Foreign Trade Affairs at Ministry of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Nimr Al-Sabah insists that counterfeit goods turns public consumers away from buying original products which in turn causes the owners of the original brands to sustain material and moral losses, reports Al-Anba daily.

In an interview, he reiterated that counterfeiting trademarks harm both the owners and the consumers, stressing that the purchase of counterfeit goods reduces consumers’ confidence in the local market and the quality of its goods.

Sheikh Nimr affirmed that the law offers provisions for material compensations for victims of infringement of their trademarks, elaborating that the law of trademarks and patents stipulates that counterfeiters are subjected to a criminal penalty of imprisonment for a period not less than one month and not more than three years.

Regarding his vision about the facilities provided by the ministry for applicants with registered trademarks, he revealed that they can now register their trademarks through the ministry’s website.

Sheikh Nimr indicated that the ministry has received several complaints about the theft and imitation of trademarks, elaborating that, in the case of imitation of trademarks, a complaint is filed with the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Sector of the ministry in order to file a lawsuit with the competent court.

He affirmed about ongoing cooperation between the departments of Commercial Control and Trademarks to receive complaints of applicants concerning counterfeit goods and to decide on them in accordance with the law

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