Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 19, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
As representative of the only organization on the subject of “copyright”, Jan D. Scharringhausen – Head of the Legal Department of GVU – presented this society’s procedures and goals on the second day.
“The event offered a previously unique framework for public prosecutors’ offices, police and customs offices to exchange views in personal discussion on combating trademark and product piracy”, Scharringhausen emphasizes. “Likewise, the insight that representatives from business and politics provided into their measures will significantly promote trusting cooperation. Especially in this area, that represents an absolutely necessary prerequisite for a successful protection system”, the Head of the Legal Department continues.
A total of 15 public prosecutors from almost all federal states used the opportunity for a constructive dialogue with senior officials from police and customs at federal and state level. In half-hour presentations, the officials, ministry members and representatives of the European judicial authority EUROJUST as well as the World Customs Organization WCO showed possibilities for cooperation. Representatives of companies from the automotive, medical, IT and sporting-goods industries outlined business strategies for preventing product and trademark piracy. Thus Scharringhausen explained GVU’s priorities in combating copyright infringements: targeted intervention at the starting point of illegal distribution by concentrating on individuals and groups who are the first to make pirated copies available online. Above all, the so-called “First-Seeder-Kill” project as well as GVU’s differentiated approach met with lively interest. Liaison officers from other nations such as Japan, Russia, the Netherlands or Switzerland as well as members of the US Consulate General contributed to the lively discussions.
