Online training seminars for enforcement officials during covid-19 crisis

• On 20 April 2020 the first online training seminar for police officers specialised in IP crime took place in Lima
• Other online training sessions were carried out over the following days
• Enforcement officials have the opportunity to learn directly from brand owners, rather than their legal representatives

While many countries have declared a sanitary emergency or lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic, the infringement of IP rights is growing.

As part of a global brand protection strategy, brand owners usually train enforcement officials in different jurisdictions to help them distinguish between fake and genuine goods. Currently, it is not possible to conduct such training in the traditional way, as brand owners or their attorneys usually visit the authorities face-to-face.

On 20 April 2020 the first online training seminar for police officers specialised in IP investigations and crimes took place in Lima. Procter & Gamble was invited to show its Product Identification Guide, with great success. Following that first experience, 10 other online training sessions were carried out over the following days in different cities and ports: around 250 enforcement officials - including customs officers, prosecutors, judges and police officers - had the opportunity to meet brand owners and obtain first-hand the information necessary to know how to act if they suspect that merchandise is counterfeit.

Despite the travel restrictions and social distancing rules in force in Peru, the country was one of the first in the world to organise such training for public authorities. Enforcement officials have access to such training. As most of them are currently working remotely, this is a good opportunity to learn and then apply the training received in real life.

There are arguably some advantages to having virtual training sessions/seminars, as opposed to face-to-face ones:

• Enforcement officials have the opportunity to learn directly from brand owners, rather than from their legal representatives in the country; usually, face-to-face training is organised by legal representatives, as brand owners cannot be everywhere.
• There are fewer limits to the number of participants, as most online platforms can support more than 200 participants.
• People who join the online training are really interested in the agenda and want to learn.
• It is easier to manage a ‘questions and answers’ section; for most people, it is easier to ask questions online, rather than in front of an audience.
• Online training is cost-effective.