UFI announces global intellectual property campaign

UFI, the Global Association of the exhibition industry, has announced a new global campaign designed to promote the protection of intellectual property. ‘In the interests of promoting the highest professional standards and safeguarding the future prosperity of the industry and its customers,’ a representative said, ‘UFI believes that this is an important issue which needs to be addressed seriously.’

Exhibitions are a tremendously effective way for companies to do business in their domestic and international markets. Because of this effectiveness, the use of trade fairs to sell products which infringe on trademarks, copyrights and patents is considered to be a serious problem in a number of countries around the world. UFI believes that the exhibitions industry itself should play an active part in combating this kind of abuse.

Intellectual properties rights issues internal to the exhibitions industry, that relate to exhibition theme protection and the use of exhibition brands also raise some concerns. These can be complex, although there is well-established ‘best practice’ in many countries. These examples can be used as a model in other countries where there is a problem.

The UFI’s Code of Ethics already includes several relevant sections addressing this but UFI would like to do more to promote awareness of the issue, as well as providing leadership around the world in these matters.