Ongoing surveillance by the FH

In general, last year the fact that imitations were now taking priority over copies had been noted. That observation remains equally pertinent this year. An attentive observer will see quite clearly how a large number of exhibitors try to push back the limits when it comes to design. The essential characteristics of successful models of the Swiss watch industry are carefully worked over in the technical offices of the Chinese manufacturers. Under these particular conditions, our surveillance operation, which was initially a repressive undertaking, has now taken on a "teaching" aspect. First of all, the intention is to call clear attention to the founding principle of our action: intellectual property is non-negotiable. Then limits must be laid down for inspiration and all those who go beyond those limits brought back into line. And they are numerous.

Reviewing the 700 or so exhibitors spread between the three halls of the immense Convention & Exhibition Center at Wanchai, our teams recorded 58 cases of infringements this year. Once again, the exhibition authorities have shown their determination to take unrelenting repressive action against breaches of intellectual property.

Another purpose of the surveillance is to detect any unauthorised use of the "Swiss" indication of origin. Thanks to our certification mark which is now perfectly applicable to Hong Kong, proceedings are opened against infringements on the basis of trademark law. This approach works rather well on the occasion of the exhibition. For the third time, we used our certification mark against an exhibitor who was displaying a line of watches bearing the "Swiss" indication.

At the end of the exercise, the eighth surveillance session at the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair ended with a result in line with the objectives set by the members of the FH Anti-counterfeiting Group.

September 29, 2015