Official website of the Swiss watch industry

An initial charter to fight cyber-counterfeiting uniting e-commerce platforms and corporate rights holders was signed in France in December 2009 under the aegis of the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry, with the support of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI). The measures outlined in that charter improved cooperation between the parties and greatly reduced sales of counterfeit products on signatory e-commerce sites. The charter now has more than 50 signatories (e-commerce platforms, rights holders and industrial federations).

The aim of the second mission was to extend the principles of the charter to small ads sites and to associate e-commerce intermediaries, in order to examine with them concrete ways of stemming the physical flows of counterfeit products. Indeed in 2011 customs seized more than a million counterfeit articles contained in postal and express packages, an increase of 40% over a one year period.

This mission concluded with the signing of two new charters of intent which brought small ads platforms and postal operators into the fold. Cooperation among signatories has therefore been strengthened with a view to detecting counterfeit goods offered for sale, preventing their publication or withdrawing them after they have been put online, and allowing steps to be taken against repeat offenders in the realm of counterfeiting. This balanced package of reforms includes:

• preventive measures to detect counterfeit products and notification procedures to withdraw counterfeit products that have been put online;


• better information to sellers and a strengthening of consumer awareness on platforms;


• protection of consumer health and safety through the withdrawal of offers involving medicines;


• management of particulars provided by consumers who have been victims of online counterfeiting.

Since 2012, discussions have taken place between the French National Anti-Counterfeiting Committee (CNAC) and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH reflecting the extent to which the principles outlined in these charters fully accord with actions carried out by the FH Internet Unit, particularly discussions and negotiations with Internet platforms and technical operators.
To send a strong signal of support for these charters – an approach unique in Europe - the FH, represented by Carole Aubert, head of the FH Internet Unit, and the French Watchmaking Federation represented by Didier Bévillon , signed them on 8 February this year in Paris.

February 22, 2013