Paraguay creates agency against piracy and counterfeiting

By BKM | Berkemeyer

Paraguay’s National IP Office (Dinapi, for its Spanish acronym) announced the creation of a public agency to fight against piracy and counterfeiting, called National Intellectual Property Coordination Center.

Created by Presidencial Decree No. 3074 on December 18, 2019, the new agency will be responsible for developing and implementing a national strategic plan for the protection and enforcement of IP rights throughout the country. It will also implement actions within the framework of numerous international trade conventions and agreements that Paraguay has signed.

“The problem with piracy and counterfeiting is that unfortunately both have deep roots in society and culture. Although there have been numerous efforts to combat it, they are still not enough to permanently discourage people to act against Intellectual Property,” said Dinapi’s Director Joel Talavera.

Talavera pointed out that since the beginning of his administration -September 2018- Dinapi has carried out more than 200 anti piracy procedures preventing the entry and circulation into the country of illegal products worth more than USD 20 million. “These numbers reflect, only in part, the magnitude of the problem, which requires concrete and effective measures in the short and medium term that discourage such behaviors, in order to strengthen the national industry, provide greater security to domestic trade, protect workers and ensure to the world’s consumers quality Paraguayan products.”