Kosovo Adopts Strategy to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy

On October 4, 2012, the Kosovo government adopted the national strategy for combating counterfeited and pirated products for the 2012-2016 period, drafted by the Copyright and Related Rights Office in cooperation with other local institutions responsible for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The strategy aims to create mechanisms for combating counterfeiting and piracy and by doing so help improve Kosovo’s image and economy.

The strategy defines the objectives to be reached during the 2012-2016 period, the most important of which are to:

• Reduce piracy and counterfeiting;
• Improve the productivity of the creative industry;
• Identify the main causes of increase in piracy and counterfeiting;
• Fight against the informal economy and create favorable conditions for foreign investments;
• Enhance international and national inter-institutional cooperation;
• Achieve European standards.

The strategy also foresees the establishment of a task force, whose mission will be to:

• Promote effective cooperation between public authorities and social and economic organizations in the field of copyright protection;
• Ensure and coordinate the implementation of the strategy and the action plan against counterfeiting and piracy;
• Develop and implement public awareness programs and campaigns;
• Prepare and deliver proposals for drafting legislation related to copyright enforcement.

Prepared by: Jelena Jankovic

For more information, please contact mail@petosevic.com.

Source: The text of the strategy