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REACT is an international not-for-profit cooperative association fighting the trade in counterfeit goods. It currently has around 190 members in all areas of industry, including fashion, sports, merchandising, tobacco, electronics, mobile phones, pharmaceuticals, football, toys and consumer goods.

History

React was founded by Ronald Brohm on the 24th of April 1991 as the foundation: 'Stichting Namaak Bestrijding' as an initiative from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. In the ensuing years React developed into an international organisation, first with offices in Amsterdam, Milan and Lisbon which led to the foundation of the cooperative association 'SNB-REACT' on 24 July 2002. Subsequently SNB-REACT grew into a global network of offices and partners in 63 countries and the organization changed its trading name to 'REACT' in 2011.

Organization

REACT Headquarters are based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The organization has offices and partner offices in the following countries:

REACT Offices:

China (REACT Asia Pacific), Czech Republic & Slovakia, Curacao (REACT Latin America), Germany, Italy, Lithuania (REACT Baltic States), Macedonia (REACT Balkan and Internet Monitoring Program), Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Vietnam.

REACT Partners:

Albania, Argentina, Austrslia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Customs Enforcement

As the effect of increased global purchasing power via the Internet leads towards a multitude of smaller shipments posted, or sent by express mail to destinations all around the world, the challenge for Customs to detect and process such consignments of counterfeit goods has become enormous. Against this backdrop, the provision of training and the improvement of understanding between rights owners and Customs has never been so important. REACT members have the opportunity to assist Customs through a public-private training programme at key sea ports, airports and other points of entry.

The starting point for protecting brands is to ensure that accurate Customs Applications are recorded with the Customs Department in the respective country. REACT assists members with these applications. Once the applications have been filed, local REACT offices keep in touch with Customs to support them and give them the best opportunity to identify suspect shipments. REACT is also on hand to support members in all seizure cases, assisting with communication, sampling, storage and destruction. Most cases are resolved through an administrative legal process and the seized goods are dealt with and destroyed within a relatively short period of time. Where possible we encourage the recycling of forfeited products through REACT recycling facilities. In appropriate cases, REACT assists with filing claims and recovering damages.

When seizures are made at export in source countries there is also a significant potential to gather information and intelligence on the routes and shipping patterns of counterfeit shipments. Members use the REACT global network to alert Customs and Police in other potential destination ports and consumption markets and enable them to take immediate practical enforcement action.

Market Monitoring

REACT investigators monitor notorious markets and other counterfeiting outlets. This work is done in close cooperation with law enforcement authorities. The verification of tips from members is an important activity of REACT. The combination of investigators and lawyers working together results in a rapid follow up of seizures and raids.

Internet Monitoring

The trade of counterfeit goods via the Internet is now enormous. It facilitates massive volumes of illegal products being sold in many thousands of air shipments to distributors and direct to unwitting consumers, whilst providing the illegal trade a high degree of anonymity. In response to this growing trend REACT has developed an E-commerce strategy, which is now a key activity in fighting the trade in counterfeit goods. REACT has designed an nternet Monitoring Program specifically for members, using our bespoke WebCrawler software that monitors and removes infringing websites. We have recently upgraded the software to detect hidden connections between websites. It is able to discover clusters of infringing websites belonging to the same counterfeit seller. This software monitors: advertisements (monitoring and removing from about 130 auction platforms worldwide), web shops (worldwide search and removal: B2B exchanges, E-commerce sites and search engines) and Social Media platforms worldwide. Other activities of REACT's Internet Monitoring team include: test purchases, investigations of registrants or any other connected addresses, initiating raids, blocking of payments, initiating legal action through local lawyers and investigators, removal of search results from search engines and URDP procedures.

Seminars

REACT offices and partners organize local seminars where Customs, Police and other law enforcement officers are being trained how to recognize counterfeit goods. The trainings are provided by REACT members or REACT employees.

Cooperation with law enforcement authorities REACT cooperates extensively with law enforcement authorities. To enhance this cooperation and to provide Governmental authorities with ready access to IPR industry specialists, a specific non-governmental organization the ‘IPR Business Partnership’, has been established.

External Links

Official website: www.react.org