The Toy Association™ addressed industry priorities for combating counterfeit products during a recent conference hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The two-day forum, “Pacific Colloquium on Consumer Protection, Border Security, and Enforcement Against Trade in Counterfeit Goods gathered public and private sector experts, customs and law enforcement officials, attorneys general and legal officers, policymakers, and judges to discuss effective approaches to consumer protection, border security, and cooperation against the trade in counterfeit and illicit goods. The forum took place in Los Angeles from August 26 to 29.

Owen Caine, The Toy Association’s vice president of government affairs, spoke on two panel discussions during the colloquium addressing the abundance and dangers of counterfeit and illegal consumer products available in the market. He also explained the importance of the passage and enforcement of the INFORM Act last year and highlighted the necessity of Congressional action on the SHOP SAFE Act, which would protect consumers from harmful counterfeit products sold online and support legitimate businesses by ensuring a safer, more reliable marketplace.

The SHOP SAFE Act requires online platforms to meet the same safety and liability standards for counterfeit goods as traditional retailers, encouraging best practices for vetting sellers and informing consumers. The bill is currently awaiting committee votes in both the Senate and the House before it can proceed to a full legislative vote.

The Toy Association has been a vocal advocate against counterfeit and illicit goods and continues to work tirelessly to educate the public on the dangers of fake toys, spread awareness to other industries, and meet with government officials to convey the critical importance of the legislation for consumer protection and the broader toy industry.

For more information on The Toy Association’s advocacy work on counterfeits and IP protection, visit thetoyassociation.org/advocacy. Members may contact Owen Caine, vice president of government affairs at The Toy Association, with any questions.