The 2024 Forum on Criminal IP Protection, organised by the Quality Brands Protection Committee of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (QBPC), concluded on 5-6 August 2024 in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. This event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from China and other countries, including government officials, enforcement officers, IP law professionals, and industry representatives, to discuss and share insights on critical issues in criminal IP enforcement.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, held the ninth meeting of the Latin American Anti-Smuggling Alliance (ALAC) on 2-3 July. This event, organised by the Confederation of Private Businessmen of Bolivia (CEPB) and the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (ANDI), brought together more than 150 participants, including authorities, representatives of business organisations, and public and private sector actors, to address joint strategies against illicit trade.

IP Key China, in cooperation with the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NGFA), co-organised a study visit in various places in Europe focused on Plant Variety Protection (PVP) legislative matters.

In July, IP Key Latin America will take significant steps to strengthen the fight against counterfeit products through two major initiatives in Costa Rica and South America. The aim of the activities is to align efforts with the European EMPACT initiative, which targets organised crime, including intellectual property (IP) violations. These efforts reflect a growing commitment to raise awareness of the global challenge of counterfeiting, which not only threatens economies, but also endangers public health and safety.

To tackle the rising tide of counterfeiting and piracy, a campaign has been launched with a special focus on Brazilian youth. To deliver this powerful message, and its immediate consequences, a series of short videos have been produced and are being disseminated on social media.