Please view this month's Member Spotlights!

We thank all of the participants for contributing and sharing their expertise with us. Member companies are randomly chosen each month to participate as a way to connect and educate our member community. To view our previous member spotlights, click here. 

Jose H. Werner       

Dannemann Siemsen  

Partner

San Paulo, Brazil

What’s the most common misconception about IP enforcement, and how does it impact companies/consumers?

One of the biggest misconceptions about IP enforcement is relying on an Anti-Counterfeiting Program based exclusively on Online Enforcement (notice and takedown - NTD) to clean the markets. Whether due to budget constraints, incorrect forecasts or internal demands for a simple, quick-results strategy, many companies no longer give due credit to real-world anti-infringement measures.

It is true that a NTD strategy immediate removal of an online offender’s website, page or online commerce profile, with excellent statistical results, as well as capital savings due to lower investment. However, there are costs to relying on this strategy alone. Perhaps the main Achilles' heel of relying solely on an NTD strategy is that no matter how many times action is taken against an online target, a few days later or even within a matter of hours, that same vendor can be back online, either directly or by means of a front company or individual acting as a designated infringer.

Also, if physical products are not seized, then they remain available for future sale. As a consequence, it is even possible that ineffective NTD-only strategies are actually encouraging online offenders, by failing to establish a strong enough deterrent. It is thus vital crucial to review anti-infringement strategies regularly, diversifying and adapting them in response to new data in order to stay ahead of this fast-evolving threat.

What are your top 2 recommendations to a brand that is building up its IP enforcement program?

A perfect IP enforcement program encompasses many different pieces of strategy and generally requires high investments to deal with the problem, especially considering the volume of counterfeits in the local market.

However, for companies facing for the first time the challenge of addressing proper measures, there are two basic pieces of strategy that should be considered as initial steps: 1) Investigation and 2) Border Protection.

Online investigations and physical market surveys give an overview of the incidence of counterfeit activity, provide the IP Owner with a list of potential targets, obtain information regarding companies and individuals involved and estimate quantity and type of illegal products. After that, the IP Owner will be capable of evaluating next steps, such as deeper investigations to find distributors, importers and/ or local factories, preventive measures, or enforcement initiatives.

Besides investigation, building a solid Border Enforcement Program can easily allow IP Owners to obtain fast and effective results with low investments. Only a few steps are needed to enable seizures of large quantities of products, such as application before the National Directory to Fight Counterfeiting – NDFC, presentation of an Inspection Request before COANA – Customs Administration and training initiatives.

What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?

“To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to change often”. This quote from Sir Winston Churchill has driven my professional life and the way I always represented my clients. It is true that static is enemy to evolution, which means that better results demand different approaches.

In the Brand Protection/ Anti-Counterfeiting world the above concept is not different. Specialization does not mean that we have to do it all over again every time.

The change must be constant, even if the tools available are the same. Maybe a single vision of the case is not sufficient. A different perspective might be the key-factor for a great result. And this is applicable to all stages of a case, such as target selection, investigation, strategy formulation, complaint draft, raid execution, among others.

Therefore, in case you need to find the perfect professional partnership, try to identify someone who usually presents uncommon views to the problem and looks to find different paths to solve the case. 

Contact info: jhwerner@dannemann.com.br

Padmakumar Nair       

Ennoventure, Inc.

Founder and CEO 

Dubai, UAE

What new tactics are bad actors using to evade enforcement and what impact does it have on brand protection? 

With advancements in Gen AI, bad actors are now able to create accurate copies of genuine product packages and labels, resulting in highly convincing counterfeit products. Generative AI technologies such as image synthesis enable ultra-realistic product generation—including textures, logos—while natural language generation can be misused to replicate brand tone and create fake websites. With design automation, counterfeiters are able to mimic a brand’s unique aesthetic—like packaging layouts, brand templates—with precision and at scale. As a result, brand protection teams must now contend not only with the scale of counterfeits, but also with their increasing level of sophistication.  

How do counterfeit goods impact consumer trust, and what can companies do to rebuild it?

Counterfeit goods not just eat into a brand’s revenue but also erode consumer trust, as they are poor quality replicas of original products—often made using inferior grade or spurious raw materials— which can harm consumers or even put their lives at stake in the case of pharmaceuticals. According to the latest OECD-EUIPO report, counterfeit goods accounted for USD 467B in global trade in 2021—posing a serious threat to both brands and public safety. Companies need to be vigilant when it comes to brand protection, and adopt cutting-edge anti-counterfeit solutions to help them stay ahead of evolving counterfeit tactics.

What hobbies or causes are you passionate about? 

Ahmad Chatila, the Chairman of Ennoventure, has been the most influential force in shaping how I approach my work. His strategic clarity, relentless pursuit of excellence, and principled leadership have served as a guiding light in my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve also been shaped by former managers whose trust and high standards pushed me to raise the bar—lessons I carry forward every day in building teams, driving execution, and staying grounded in purpose.

Contact info: padmakumar.nair@ennoventure.com 

Nick Weger      

Entertainment Software Association

Executive Director  

Washington, DC USA 

What’s one piece of advice you can give a brand looking to enforce their IP? 

Monitor not only your top threats, but also your emerging threats. The emerging threats may use creative ways (hidden links, code words) to drive more traffic to their site. 

• Where are your threats posting their counterfeit items - marketplaces, standalone websites?
• What types of tactics and techniques are they using to stand out - images, design aesthetics?
• What additional platforms do they leverage to promote their counterfeit items - social media, private forums?

How can smaller businesses leverage brand protection programs without a large budget? 

Establish solid relationships with online platforms and intermediaries. Each company normally has helpful points-of-contact that can expedite priority matters and can assist with the removal of high-volume sellers.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given? 

Don’t make decisions too quickly. In my line of work, I have the advantage of taking a step back after receiving new information and weighing all the factors to consider the best approach.

John Warrink     

Interro Investigations

Founder and Director  

Eindhoven, the Netherlands

What’s the most common misconception about IP enforcement, and how does it impact companies/consumers? 

I keep on explaining to people, whether it’s friends, family, business relations or else, that fighting counterfeit does make sense. It’s not “leave those kids selling a T-shirt alone”, it’s about working on awareness. It’s about impact that could affect innocent shop employees being fired because of the fact people are buying on Facebook instead of in B&M shops. It’s about tax evasion, about organized crime. About kids, starting as a counterfeit seller and getting attracted to easy money and being vulnerable for stepping into the drugs scene, for example.

How do counterfeit goods impact consumer trust, and what can companies do to rebuild it?

Counterfeit goods damage consumer trust by associating poor quality with legitimate brands, reducing loyalty, and tarnishing brand image. To rebuild trust, companies should put effort in client awareness, implement authentication tools, educate consumers on spotting fakes, and secure their supply chains. Transparent communication and offering guarantees or warranties can reassure customers. Legal action against counterfeiters and collaboration with online platforms to remove fake listings further demonstrate a commitment to authenticity. By combining technology, transparency, and customer support, brands can restore confidence and reinforce their reputation for quality and integrity. Anti-counterfeiting should not be seen as a cost center.

What hobbies or causes are you passionate about? 

I am chairman of a sport club for children with special challenges. Kids with visual problems, physical issues, Down syndrome, autism or else have got the right to be who they are, to have fun without being looked at as being different. We arrange weekly sporting sessions for these youngsters where they can develop themselves in their own way, build friendships with other children, have fun and discover new sports. The smiles on their faces every time they are about to bring their sweated bodies back home is priceless. The fact they keep on coming back every Saturday is the best possible reward I can get.

Contact info: jw@interro.eu 

Bryan Perla        

Little ELF Products, Inc. 

Founder and CEO

Boston, MA USA 

What’s one piece of advice you can give a brand looking to enforce their IP? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to IP enforcement. The best advice is to connect with other founders or brands who’ve successfully navigated it. Learn from their approaches, mistakes, and legal strategies. Having a network of peers and mentors can help you shortcut the learning curve, avoid common traps, and build a more effective, personalized plan. You don’t have to figure it all out alone—use others’ experience and the IACC program as a roadmap.

What 2 things contribute to a successful brand protection program?

Tireless obsession and strategic grit. Counterfeiters treat infringement just like any business, and they’re shockingly organized. They have processes, backup sellers, and layered strategies ready to go—so even when you shut them down, they’re already two steps ahead. To truly protect your brand, you need to treat enforcement with that same seriousness: build a system, stay consistent, and always continuously adapt to stay agile.

What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” This quote has stuck with me for years. It’s a powerful reminder that the boldest, most world-changing ideas often come from people who aren't afraid to challenge norms. It inspires me to keep pushing forward with big, unconventional visions—even when they seem far-fetched—because that’s often where real impact starts.

Vivian Arestia        

Monotype Secure

VP of Innovation

Fairfield, CT USA 

How has online shopping through social media platforms impacted efforts to protect IP, and what strategies are companies adopting to address these challenges?

Online shopping through social media platforms has made it harder for brands to protect intellectual property (IP), as it's often unclear where consumers are purchasing products. When counterfeit goods are sold, tracing their origin becomes difficult due to the informal and global nature of these platforms. To address this, best-in-class companies are investing in technologies that enable both authentication AND tracking and tracing of products across the supply chain. This allows them to ensure only genuine products are flowing through their supply chain, while also building gathering critical customer data as part of the authentication experience. 

What is one way a brand with a mature IP enforcement program can take their efforts to the next level?

One way a brand with a mature IP enforcement program can elevate its efforts is by adopting covert product authentication. At Monotype Secure, our thesis is simple: what you can see, you can copy. Bad actors are highly resourceful and will find ways to replicate anything that is visible or accessible. To stay ahead, brands must integrate invisible or hidden authentication technologies into their products—solutions that are difficult to detect and even harder to replicate. This shift toward covert methods provides an additional layer of protection, making it significantly more challenging for counterfeiters to succeed and enhancing long-term brand security.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

The best advice I’ve ever received as an entrepreneur: laser focus on understanding the customer’s pain point. Too many founders fall in love with their solution or technology instead of the problem. Real growth comes from obsessing over what truly frustrates your customer — not what you think they need, but what they’re actually struggling with. Talk to them. Listen deeply. Spot the patterns. When you understand their pain better than they do, you build something that genuinely matters. Start there, and everything else — product, messaging, growth — gets clearer. Focus on the pain. That’s where the opportunity lives.