Website www.react.org | ||
Type Not-for-profit cooperative association Purpose Fighting the trade in counterfeit goods Headquarters Amsterdam, the Netherlands | ||
REACT is an international not-for-profit cooperative association fighting the trade in counterfeit goods. It currently has around 190 members in all areas of industry, including fashion, sports, merchandising, tobacco, electronics, mobile phones, pharmaceuticals, football, toys and consumer goods.
Contents
History
REACT was founded by Ronald Brohm on 24 April 1991 as the foundation Stichting Namaak Bestrijding as an initiative from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel). In the ensuing years REACT developed into an international organisation, first with offices in Amsterdam, Milan and Lisbon which led to the foundation of the cooperative association 'SNB-REACT' on 24 July 2002. Subsequently SNB-REACT grew into a global network of offices and partners in 63 countries and the organization changed its trading name to REACT in 2011.
Organization
REACT Headquarters are based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The organization is active in the following countries:
Offices
Customs Enforcement
As the effect of increased global purchasing power via the Internet leads towards a multitude of smaller shipments posted, or sent by express mail to destinations all around the world, the challenge for Customs agencies to detect and process such consignments of counterfeit goods has become enormous. REACT assists Customs agencies through a public-private training programme at key sea ports, airports and other points of entry.
The starting point for protecting brands is to ensure that accurate Customs Applications are recorded with the Customs Department in the respective country. REACT encourages and assist brand owners to provide customs with the information needed to protect and enforce intellectual property rights through these Customs applications. Once the applications have been filed, local REACT offices keep in touch with Customs to support them and give them the best opportunity to identify suspect shipments. REACT liaises and supports Customs/brand owner communication in all seizure cases, assisting with sampling, storage and destruction. Most cases are resolved through an administrative legal process. Where possible REACT encourages the recycling of forfeited products.
REACT encourages members to make use of our global network to alert Customs and Police on the routes and shipping patterns of counterfeit shipments.
Market Monitoring
In close cooperation with enforcement authorities REACT investigators monitor notorious markets and other counterfeiting outlets. The verification of tips provided by the public on suspect shops and markets is an important activity of REACT.
Internet Monitoring
Due to the amount of counterfeit goods being sold online REACT has developed an E-commerce strategy which is now a key activity in fighting the trade in counterfeit goods. In order to locate hidden connections between websites, advertisements and social media accounts in order to detect clusters of sellers REACT uses Web crawler software.
Other Internet Monitoring brand protection activities include: test purchases, investigations of registrants or any other connected addresses, initiating raids, blocking of payments, initiating legal action through local lawyers and investigators, removal of search results from search engines and URDP procedures.
Seminars
In order to train and provide Customs, Police and other law enforcement officers with as much information as possible, on how to recognize counterfeit goods, REACT organizes local trainings.
Cooperation with law enforcement authorities
REACT cooperates extensively with law enforcement authorities. To enhance this cooperation and to provide Governmental authorities with ready access to IPR industry specialists, a specific non-governmental organization the ‘IPR Business Partnership’, has been established.