The International Air Cargo Association has published a position paper which calls for customs authorities to bring together rights holders, service providers and regulators for a working dialogue on the growing problem of goods that infringe intellectual property rights.

According to TIACA, the air cargo industry plays a crucial role in preventing counterfeit goods from being transported and in investigations of illicit trade because it is an intermediary. It is part of a three-pronged approach to fighting infringing goods, together with rights holders and customs authorities.

“The industry’s cooperation with law enforcement agencies contributes to the increase in seizures by government agencies,” said Doug Brittin, secretary general of TIACA. “However, each party needs to acknowledge its role and limitations. Air cargo industry members are not law enforcement agencies, and our role is necessarily limited by this reality. Any potential liability for air cargo industry members should be limited to instances where air cargo operators have actual knowledge of receiving or handling IPR infringing goods and have failed to take action based on that knowledge.”

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, goods infringing intellectual property rights amount to more than US$250 billion.

The position paper was compiled by TIACA’s Market Access and Trade Facilitation Subcommittee and approved by the board, which includes members from across the air freight industry, according to the association.