IACC NEWS

U.S. Legislative Updates

IACC's Vice President for Legislative Affairs Travis Johnson provides an update on U.S. Legislative developments impacting IP protection and what the IACC is doing to advance policy efforts to protect brands.  

Read our most recent U.S. Legislative Update and Policy Round Up for updates on:

• IACC Leads Industry Coalition Urging Congressional Action on Customs Legislation

• IACC Teams Up with Congressional Trademark Caucus to Highlight the Importance of IP to Collegiate Athletics

• Australian Parliament to Consider Legislation Targeting Counterfeit Importation

• And more …

If you have questions, please contact Travis Johnson directly at tjohnson@iacc.org. 

IACC Member Spotlights

Contact: dave@ipsecure.com

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

One of the biggest misconceptions, specifically in the online space, is that tangible ROI is attainable by simply scraping content and taking down bad listings. It’s not, and real damage happens before enforcement, through lost Buy Box control, price erosion, and consumer trust decline. When brands focus only on takedowns, they miss the broader revenue impact. For consumers, that means inconsistent experiences and higher risk of counterfeit products. Effective enforcement is proactive, data-driven, and seller focused—it protects both brand equity and revenue, not just removes content.

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

First, prioritize based on revenue impact and consumer risk — focus on the platforms where your customers shop and get access to deep analytics on those platforms.

Second, connect enforcement to business metrics like margin erosion and revenue leakage. When enforcement is tied to measurable outcomes, it becomes a growth lever—not just a cost center. The most effective programs combine targeted action with real-time intelligence to protect both brand integrity and help boost top-line performance.

What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote? 

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over” - Yogi Berra

And in today’s online brand protection space, what looks like lost Amazon and Walmart control is really just revenue you haven’t taken back yet.

Contact: daniel.estrada@signaip.com

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

The biggest misconception is that a takedown equals enforcement. It doesn't. Removing a listing takes the symptom offline while the seller — with inventory, bank accounts, and supply chain — remains intact, often reappearing within hours. Real enforcement requires probative digital evidence, coordination with national authorities, and follow-through into physical seizures. Otherwise, brands over-invest in takedown metrics while consumers keep buying counterfeits that harm their health and erode trust. Enforcement is not a whack-a-mole KPI; it is a structured path from detection to court-admissible evidence to action on the ground.

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

1) Build evidence-grade detection from day one. Don't just screenshot listings — capture standards-aligned digital evidence (URLs, timestamps, chain of custody) so every case can escalate to legal action or an authority operation when needed. Volume without probative value is wasted budget. 2) Invest in relationships with national authorities early. Counterfeits don't stop online; they stop when physical inventory is seized and sellers are prosecuted. Build MOUs and operational channels with police, customs, and prosecutors in your priority markets, so you can convert digital cases into real offline impact.

What hobbies or causes are you passionate about?

I'm a Reserve Lieutenant in the Colombian National Police — a cause I care deeply about. Working alongside law enforcement officers, many of whom operate in difficult and under-resourced conditions, reminds me every day why we built Signa: to give them better tools against illicit trade. Outside work, I'm passionate about youth development through sports — I helped scale Real Madrid Foundation and EU programs in Latin America from 5,000 to 80,000 beneficiaries. Giving kids structure, purpose, and opportunity changes communities. Both causes share the same thread: building institutions and people that protect what matters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming IACC Law Enforcement Trainings 

• May 13, 2026 - Port of El Paso, TX - CBP

IACC Annual Conference April 28-30, 2026 - Orlando, FL

Join us at the premier industry event to connect, expand your knowledge, and access valuable resources to safeguard your brand and business. 

Member Events Section

This section showcases our members upcoming webinars and events they are hosting. 

Ad opportunities in our newsletters are available and are limited to IACC members. Bulk pricing available. Contact Dawn Sgarlata at dsgarlata@iacc.org.

TOOLS, RESOURCES & INFORMATION

IP Resources from Our Members

We are excited to include this Resource Section in our Quarterly Newsletter where we share interesting insights, research studies, white papers and other thought pieces from our members  around the world. Members interested in submitting relevant material for our next newsletter should contact Dawn Sgarlata at dsgarlata@iacc.org.

Disclaimer: The IACC is providing these links as a courtesy to our members; the IACC has not independently verified any claims or assertions contained therein. Further, the views expressed in each of the linked resources are those of the respective authors, and their inclusion should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the IACC.

Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection Strategy

AlpVision

The Connected Product: Integrating Traceability, Authentication, and Brand Protection

Products now move through interconnected physical and digital systems where traceability, authentication, and data analytics operate together. Understanding how these elements interact is essential for protecting product integrity, ensuring compliance, and maintaining brand trust across complex supply chains. This framework outlines how digitization and brand protection function as complementary layers within modern product ecosystems.

Authentix

Important Considerations When Implementing Large-Scale Brand Protection Programs

An experience-driven roadmap for navigating the complexity of large-scale brand protection programs that uncovers the real-world factors brand owners must navigate to successfully launch and sustain enterprise-level brand protection programs.

MarqVision

The New Economics of Brand Integrity: What the Data Says in 2026

MarqVision's 2026 State of Brand Integrity Report draws on insights from 96 brand leaders to examine how AI-accelerated threats, revenue loss from counterfeiting and impersonation, and a shift away from takedown-volume metrics are reshaping how brands approach protection.

Anti-Piracy

Red Points

What actually happens when you buy pirated software for the price of a coffee

Discover how 1 in 5 pirated transactions end in complete scams, and explore the dangerous business model behind $4.66 illicit consumer software deals that cost brands billions in lost revenue.

General IP Enforcement

BARLAW– Barrera & Asociados

From Registration to Seizure: A Successful Case Against Fake BLEU DE CHANEL Imports

Where we inform about a recent seizure detected in a shipment involving perfume vessels using CHANEL BLUE trademarks.

Cervieri Monsuárez

Paraguay: Seizure of counterfeit merchandise in Puerto Seco Boreal

Vaudra International

When Deception Serves the Truth: Lawful Use of Undercover Contact in Investigations

An overview of the lawful & ethical use of undercover contact in intellectual property investigations, outlining legal foundations, risk considerations, and a practical decision framework for counsel and investigators.

IP Legal and Policy Updates

BARLAW– Barrera & Asociados

Publication of Legislative Decree No. 1724 updates copyright law and aligns it with international standards by establishing safe harbors for Internet service providers (ISPs)

Where we comment on the recently enacted Legislative Decree 1724 that amends the current Peruvian Copyright Law to implement Safe Harbors to ISPs and other digital service providers within the Peruvian territory. Despite the delay in implementing said measures, we highlight the involvement of the Peruvian Copyright Office as the specialized authority to promote the copyright notice procedures.

IACC Programs and Tools

IACC Membership Information
Member Benefits
Membership for SMEs

IACC Online Enforcement Program
IACC MarketSafe Program
IACC-Amazon Program
RogueBlock®

IACC-DHgate Program

IACC Law Enforcement Training Program
U.S. Trainings
Law Enforcement Training App

Other Resources

IACC SME Brand Protection Toolkit

IP Experts Directory