2004 Counterfeiting Report by Croatian State Inspectorate

According to the 2004 Report by the Croatian State Inspectorate, Croatian market is not more exposed to counterfeit goods than markets in other transition countries.

In fact, EU countries, as well the US, are as exposed to counterfeit goods.

Croatian IP Laws, as well as the Law on Customs, are now fully harmonized with EU legislation. Through regulations and various bodies of executive power (inspectorate, customs, police), Croatia is minimizing counterfeiting and sanctioning the infringers.

The circulation of goods on the Croatian market is continually inspected in order to protect consumers and trademark owners from counterfeit products. The State Inspectorate is responsible for instigating the inspection of goods while the Croatian Customs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs coordinate suppression of counterfeits.

The Croatian Trademark Law is applied to individual, collective and certification marks that are pending and/or registered at the Croatian State Intellectual Property Office. It is also applied to International Trademark Registrations valid in Croatia as per Madrid Agreement. In case of an infringement, in accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Law, the infringers are subject to a fine, while counterfeit goods are being seized and destroyed.

Most counterfeit products on the Croatian market originate from Turkey, Italy, China and Thailand or are locally made. They include well-known brands such as ADIDAS, BIG STAR, CALVIN KLEIN, DIESEL, FENDI, FILA, FISHBONE, GAS, GUCCI, HUGO BOSS, LEVI STRAUSS, LEVIS, LOTTO, LOUIS VUITTON, NAUTICA, NAVIGARE, NIKE, PUMA, PAUL&SHARK, SPEEDO, SERGIO TACCHINI, TOMMY HILFIGER and UNGARO.

As reported by the State Inspectorate, in 2004 inspectors carried out a total of 1869 inspections on the sales of textile goods, footwear and headgear which used registered trademarks without the permission from the trademark owners. Approximately 1 million Euros worth of goods were seized and infringers were sanctioned accordingly. The seized goods were mainly Louis Vuitton leather goods and various garment and footwear brands such as PUMA, ADIDAS, BIG STAR, HNS and FILA.

Music and cinematographic works (CD, audio and video), as well as computer software, are regulated by the Law on Copyright and Related Rights. In 2004, approximately 360 pirated CDs, 41 pirated audiocassettes and 227 pirated video grams were seized and destroyed.

For more information on 2004 Report by the Croatian State Inspectorate, please contact our Croatia representative.

Prepared by Anamarija Stancic Petrovic of SD PETOSEVIC Croatia