Union des Fabricants (Unifab)
Encyclopedia
Union des Fabricants was created by several pharmaceutical manufacturers in 1872, when they realised that their products were being counterfeited in Germany and came together to create the "Charte de l'Union des Fabricants".
Unifab began working for the international protection of intellectual property
and for the fight against counterfeiting. It took part in drawing up the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the Madrid Arrangement concerning international trademark
registration (1891). Encouraged by these successes, it helped to draw up a large number of bilateral treaties to increase the protection of industrial property between France and Austria, Portugal, the United States, Greece, Peru, Russia, etc.
In France, it was recognised as a public interest organisation as early as 1877 and came under the system created by the Associations Act in 1901. It took part in the creation of the National Trade Mark and Patent
Office in 1901 and recommended the creation of the first register of trademarks, which was later used as the basis for the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI, the French Industrial Property Office).
Today, Union des Fabricants includes 300 companies and professional federations based in France from all sectors of the economy. It is a unique observatory of the protection of intellectual property rights, a source of information and a discussion forum.
It also organise, in Paris
, the annual seminar providing a broad discussion forum and meeting point for all intellectual property
professionals, the European Intellectual Property Forum tackles the year’s major intellectual property issues. And many symposium held in partnership with various organisations deal with a range of subjects.
Its publications provide all the main news in the field of intellectual property: a quarterly newsletter, which presents the activities of Union des Fabricants, the Revue Internationale de la Propriété Industrielle et Artistique (RIPIA) which informs of the jurisprudence, the Manuel of the Union des Fabricants, practical guides, ect.
Union des Fabricants can provide its members with the contact details of all those concerned by the defence of intellectual property: industrial property consultants, lawyers specialising in intellectual property, official agencies and authorities (Customs
Department, Competition Consumer Affairs and Anti-Fraud Directorate General (DGCCRF), criminal investigation departments, police forces, justice systems, foreign trade missions), various national associations for the prevention of counterfeiting, etc.
Unifab takes part in professional exhibitions by setting up stands providing information on protecting and defending companies against counterfeiting. Its activities also include meetings with professional federations and creating and monitoring anti-counterfeiting charters.
Unifab opened offices in Tokyo (1980) and in Beijing (1998). The main activities of these Offices are:
, the INPI
, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
(OHIM), the European Patent Office
(EPO), the World Industrial Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) , the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the European Brand Association (AIM) and professional organisations .
Unifab is also a founder member of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), which brings together all the national anti-counterfeiting associations on an international level. Its aims are to be an international forum for national information and to issue joint communications to heighten the awareness of the general public across the world.
The "Musée de la Contrefaçon
" (Museum of Counterfeiting) was created in 1959 and is based in the Unifab's headquarters, 16 rue de la Faisanderie, in Paris.
Unifab began working for the international protection of intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
and for the fight against counterfeiting. It took part in drawing up the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the Madrid Arrangement concerning international trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
registration (1891). Encouraged by these successes, it helped to draw up a large number of bilateral treaties to increase the protection of industrial property between France and Austria, Portugal, the United States, Greece, Peru, Russia, etc.
In France, it was recognised as a public interest organisation as early as 1877 and came under the system created by the Associations Act in 1901. It took part in the creation of the National Trade Mark and Patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
Office in 1901 and recommended the creation of the first register of trademarks, which was later used as the basis for the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI, the French Industrial Property Office).
Today, Union des Fabricants includes 300 companies and professional federations based in France from all sectors of the economy. It is a unique observatory of the protection of intellectual property rights, a source of information and a discussion forum.
Supporting the business community
Unifab organises special committees to develop practice and legislation in protecting industrial property and combating counterfeiting. These commissions initiate the signing of charters, the writing of “green papers” and codes of conduct, the production of dossiers, studies, etc.It also organise, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the annual seminar providing a broad discussion forum and meeting point for all intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
professionals, the European Intellectual Property Forum tackles the year’s major intellectual property issues. And many symposium held in partnership with various organisations deal with a range of subjects.
Its publications provide all the main news in the field of intellectual property: a quarterly newsletter, which presents the activities of Union des Fabricants, the Revue Internationale de la Propriété Industrielle et Artistique (RIPIA) which informs of the jurisprudence, the Manuel of the Union des Fabricants, practical guides, ect.
Union des Fabricants can provide its members with the contact details of all those concerned by the defence of intellectual property: industrial property consultants, lawyers specialising in intellectual property, official agencies and authorities (Customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
Department, Competition Consumer Affairs and Anti-Fraud Directorate General (DGCCRF), criminal investigation departments, police forces, justice systems, foreign trade missions), various national associations for the prevention of counterfeiting, etc.
Unifab takes part in professional exhibitions by setting up stands providing information on protecting and defending companies against counterfeiting. Its activities also include meetings with professional federations and creating and monitoring anti-counterfeiting charters.
Unifab opened offices in Tokyo (1980) and in Beijing (1998). The main activities of these Offices are:
- Lobbying officials in order to improve legal provisions and enforcement
- Market monitoring
- roviding practical data on products and information on counterfeiting
- upporting authorities requests for seizures, prosecutions and trials
Providing authentication services
Unifab represents certain Rights Holders, in order to identify presumed counterfeit products in association with the Customs department or any public authorities during the suspension for release or seizure procedures.Training
Unifab trains public agencies (customs department, police forces, foreign trade missions, competition consumer affairs and anti-fraud directorate, justice system, etc) to make them more aware of counterfeits and to help them recognise these products and to support public enforcement, publishing the Manual for criminals investigationsLobbying and collaboration with public agencies
It is a member of the National Anti-Counterfeiting Committee (CNAC), collaborates with the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the INPI
National Industrial Property Institute (France)
The National Industrial Property Institute is the national intellectual property office of France, in charge of patents, trademarks and industrial design rights. Until becoming the head of the European Patent Office, Benoît Battistelli was directeur général of the INPI...
, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market , or OHIM is the trademark and designs registry for the internal market of the European Union. It is based in Alicante, Spain, and its president is António Campinos.- Task :...
(OHIM), the European Patent Office
European Patent Office
The European Patent Office is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation , the other being the Administrative Council. The EPO acts as executive body for the Organisation while the Administrative Council acts as its supervisory body as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative...
(EPO), the World Industrial Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) , the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the European Brand Association (AIM) and professional organisations .
Unifab is also a founder member of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), which brings together all the national anti-counterfeiting associations on an international level. Its aims are to be an international forum for national information and to issue joint communications to heighten the awareness of the general public across the world.
Increasing customer awareness
Unifab heightens the awareness of the consumer, the final link in the chain, it is a priority to curb the marketing of counterfeiters.- Being in permanent contacts in connection with media
- Informing the general public of the dangers, extent and development of counterfeiting at the Museum of Counterfeiting where a large number of sectors are represented.
- Organising the French part of the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day
- Participating to miscellaneous contribution to communication campaigns
The "Musée de la Contrefaçon
Musée de la Contrefaçon
The Musée de la Contrefaçon is a museum of counterfeiting. It is located at 16, rue de la Faisanderie, in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris, France, and open daily except Monday; an admission fee is charged. The nearest métro and RER stations are Porte Dauphine and Avenue Foch.The museum was...
" (Museum of Counterfeiting) was created in 1959 and is based in the Unifab's headquarters, 16 rue de la Faisanderie, in Paris.
Board of directors
- Air LiquideAir LiquideL'Air Liquide S.A., or Air Liquide , is a major French company supplying industrial gases and services to various industries including medical, chemical and electronic manufacturers. Founded in 1902, it is first in the world market in its field, now operating in over 80 countries. It is...
- Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
- Hoffman law firm
- Lacoste
- L’Oréal
- LVMHLVMHLVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A., better known as LVMH, is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris, Île-de-France, France. The company was formed after the 1987 merger of fashion house Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy, a company formed after the 1971 merger...
- Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton - MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
- NikeNike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
- NovartisNovartisNovartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
- PfizerPfizerPfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
- PSA Peugeot CitroënPSA Peugeot CitroënPSA Peugeot Citroën is a French manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles sold under the Peugeot and Citroën marques. Headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, PSA is the second largest automaker based in Europe and the number eight in the world.-History:In December 1974 Peugeot S.A....
- Walt DisneyWalt DisneyWalter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
Former chairmen
- (1872–74) P. Gage
- (1875–79) A. Raynaud
- (1879–81) C. ChristofleChristofleChristofle is a manufacturer of fine silver flatware and home accessories based in France since 1830. They are renowned for their sterling, silverplate and stainless flatware. Among Christofle's product lines are silver picture frames, crystal vases and glassware, porcelain dinnerware and silver...
- (1881–82) V. Fumouze
- (1882-82) E. Pichot
- (1882–83) L. Bertaut
- (1883–84) Laroche-Joubert
- (1884–88) Dietz-Monnin
- (1888–97) E. Dupont
- (1897-03) C. Fere
- (1903–07) M. Frings
- (1907–13) E. Gallet
- (1913–18) L. Comar
- (1918–20) L. Vaquez
- (1920–21) P. Bessand
- (1921–35) A. Bertaut
- (1935–48) Laurens-Frings
- (1948–70) G.-L. Vuitton
- (1970–79) A. Bertrand de Casanove
- (1979–80) J. Biosse Duplan
- (1980–91) J.-J. GuerlainGuerlainGuerlain is a French perfume house, among the oldest in the world. It has a large and loyal customer following, and is held in high esteem in the perfume industry...
- (1991-02) J.-R. Chandon-MoëtMoët et ChandonMoët & Chandon , or Moët, is a French winery and co-owner of the luxury goods company Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton. Moët et Chandon is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house. The company holds a Royal Warrant to supply champagne to Elizabeth II...
- (depuis 2002) Marc-Antoine Jamet