Mido confirms commitment to fighting counterfeiting
Mido and Anfao are in the front line in the battle against counterfeiting by taking part in the 'Anti-counterfeiting Cube', an initiative proposed by Fiera Milano. 
The figures regarding the counterfeiting phenomenon are truly alarming: it is estimated that it represents 7% of the global market. As far as eyewear is concerned, data provided by the police (which refer only to goods seized and not to the phenomenon as a whole) indicate that 1,680,000 pairs of glasses were seized between 2005 and 2006. Counterfeiting includes brands, patents and models and every year it is responsible for a loss in excess of 15% in the relevant market segment.
Apart from the financial damage, it must be remembered also that very often counterfeit glasses are of very poor quality and, in many cases, they could be risky for consumer health. A low-quality product may cause damage, which could also be serious, in that the frames and lenses do not have the same quality or safety standards that original glasses guarantee.
Anfao's commitment is taking many directions: from the protection of intellectual property rights at customs level to suing for damages in support of legal actions taken by the judicial authorities in criminal proceedings for the breach of the intellectual property rights of its members; from the destruction of counterfeit goods, where Anfao urges the competent public prosecutors to take measures aimed at destruction, to raising the awareness of institutions about the problem so that they will make important political and legislative decisions that will tackle the phenomenon.
The counterfeiting phenomenon is present also at fairs and preventive controls at the time of exhibitor registration are no longer sufficient. Frequently, some exhibitors display other goods at the fair and, in some cases, these are counterfeit. It is an unpleasant occurrence at other fairs as well as those in the eyewear industry.
From this point of view, Anfao has been active since 1995, when it decided to set up at Mido an office specializing in protection, with surveillance for possible cases of counterfeiting in the exhibition areas. The office is run by experts from the Anti-Counterfeiting Study Center headed by attorney Daniela Mainini, and offers immediate and specialized protection free of charge to exhibitors. Mido will provide this service for the 14th consecutive year at the next edition of the Fair at Fiera Milano March 6 through 9, 2009.
As to raising the awareness of the institutions and of public opinion in particular, Anfao has already proposed that a national anti-counterfeiting day should be created to involve all production sectors, give correct attention to the problem and lead to a decision to fight it.
