Washington - Trademark and copyright holders can now provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection their product identification guides electronically for used by CBP frontline personnel to identify counterfeit goods and prevent them from entering the United States.
"I encourage right holders to create their product identification guide electronically, follow CBP's guidelines and send it to us," said Daniel Baldwin, assistant commissioner for CBP's Office of International Trade. "With an electronic process in place, CBP is now capable of providing the information to CBP field personnel nationwide for immediate use in identifying suspect shipments."
A product identification training guide is one of the most effective ways to help CBP identify counterfeit and piratical goods. Before the new system, right holders provided hard copies of their product guides in conjunction with training officers at CBP ports of entry. The new system makes these in-depth resources readily available to all CBP personnel involved in intellectual property rights enforcement.
Product guides cannot address any legal authority or offer any legal opinions on actions CBP should or should not take; must not instruct CBP to examine, detain, or seize goods; and must contain the disclaimer required. Product guides will only be accepted for rights that have been recorded with CBP.
For more information contact CBP at iprpolicyprograms@dhs.gov or download the Intellectual Property Rights Product Identification Training Guidelines on the CBP Website.