The control exercised by the administration in relation to the improper use of registered trademarks is very important because it is a key component in the regulation and inspection of the proper operation of the market.

This is vital for enforcing trademark rights and guaranteeing that third parties will not use a trademark without prior consent. All this can be achieved by having adequate sanctions whenever a third party makes unauthorized use.

Peruvian Trademark Sanctions 

On some occasions, sanctions have been limited to warnings or amounts less than $500, so providing no deterrent for companies that import counterfeit goods. Counterfeiting remained a profitable option for offenders who avoided the costs of requesting authorizations or purchasing original merchandise.

As an example, we would like to quote two cases in which fines of 18 and 11 Applicable Tax Units ($24,000 and $15,000 respectively) were imposed on companies that imported fake ball bearings from China under the trademark of a Sweden-based company (and client of ours). In these cases, due to the huge quantity of imported merchandise and taking into account the threat to our client’s interests, the Government body imposed these fines. If actions had not been initiated, the offenders would have obtained large profits at the expense of someone else’s trademark.

Conclusions

We believe it is very important for the Government body to act this way, because it favours the proper development of the market for the benefit of consumers, especially in relation to the business origin of goods. Furthermore, infringement behaviours will be held back and these fines will serve as a lesson for those who try to import and market counterfeits.