CTOC claims progress in fight against infringement of Intellectual Property Rights

 

The Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigations Branch [CTOC] says Jamaica continues to make strides in dealing with the infringement of intellectual property rights. 

 

The agency seized more than J$200 million worth of counterfeit goods in Ocho Rios, St. Ann last week.

 

Deputy Superintendent Victor Barrett, who heads the Intellectual Property Unit within CTOC,  says the agency will continue these operations in a bid to put a dent in the counterfeit trade.

 

He says Jamaica has gained international recognition in recent years for its efforts to stamp out this practice. 

 

In support of that claim, he recently cited the amendment of the Patent Act, plus the work of both the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office and the police, which, "put together (have placed) Jamaica in a position where our US counterparts/trade partners, they saw that we took steps to protect and enforce IPR."

 

He said, as a result of that progress, Jamaica was removed from the damaging watch list in 2020, and has remained off it since.