Participants in the workshop titled “Distinguishing Between Genuine and Counterfeit Products and the Risks Arising from Counterfeits,” organized by lawyer Muhammad Lafta Al-Shammari’s office in collaboration with “Menassa Intellectual Property and Rights Management” company, was attended by representatives from Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The participants unanimously emphasized the life and legal risks associated with the use of counterfeit products, with consequences that can extend to the loss of human life.
Rashid Al-Owaihan, the Trademark and Patent Controller at the Ministry of Commerce, highlighted the importance of protecting the intellectual property of products through registration.
He emphasized that registration enables the product owner to take legal action against any individual or entity attempting to imitate it, and he emphasized that the state plays a crucial role in safeguarding intellectual property.
Al-Owaihan explained that protecting intellectual property benefits citizens, merchants, and society as a whole by encouraging improved quality, increased job opportunities, and fostering overall societal well-being.
He noted that any citizen harmed by purchasing a counterfeit product has the right to sue the seller, and the owner of the original mark can also take legal action against counterfeiters.
Mahmoud Hassan Mufarrej, the director of trademark protection at the organizing law firm, emphasized their extensive experience in trademark protection and their ongoing collaboration with the parent company Mercedes.
The workshop aimed to educate consumers about the dangers of counterfeit products entering certain countries, emphasizing that the consequences can be life-threatening.
Alaa Qaffaf, the representative of the Menasa company, explained that the workshop’s goal is to educate participants on distinguishing between genuine and counterfeit Mercedes car spare parts, while emphasizing that selling counterfeit products carries legal penalties and consequences, with counterfeit goods being destroyed to prevent harm to consumers.
Haitham Al Khatib, the spare parts sales official at Al Mulla Auto Mobiles Company, highlighted the challenging task of differentiating between original and counterfeit parts, calling for collaborative efforts between government agencies and local agents to find effective solutions to this complex issue.