UL GLOBAL SECURITY & BRAND PROTECTIOn
2016 Year in Review
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In 2016, our Global Security & Brand Protection team continued to
effectively safeguard the UL Mark and advance UL’s mission of working for
a safer world. Our team experienced strategic growth: we now have a dedicated online
investigations unit and have expanded our team to include members in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa.
UL Global Security and Brand Protection 2016
In support of UL’s leadership in advancing safety while enabling goods to flow in an increasingly
borderless world, the Global Security & Brand Protection team was called into action to combat
counterfeit UL labeled hoverboards that posed an increasing danger to consumers. As a result, in
2016 our team seized an estimated $1 million (USD) of counterfeit UL labeled hoverboards
from the stream of commerce. You can read more about our “Case of the Year” on page 9.
In 2016, UL was honored to partner with INTERPOL and the City of London Police to deliver
the 10th Annual International IP Crime Conference at London’s historic Guildhall. Please see
page 24 to learn more about this highly respected and globally recognized event.
UL’s Global Security & Brand Protection team will continue to work closely with our customers
and partners, and dedicate our leadership and resources to support global efforts to combat
intellectual property (IP) crime.
Sincerely,
Brian Monks
Vice President & Chief Security Officer
Global Security & Brand Protection
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The UL Global
Security & Brand
Protection Team
Worldwide
UL AntiCounterfeiting
Report 2016
CUSTOMER
experiences
GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIPS
EFFECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT:
GLOBAL border
protection
program
EFFECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT:
GLOBAL
INVESTIGATIONS
working
together
in 2016
International
conferences
5
customer
focus
Apple & UL
success story
International
IP Crime
Investigators
College (IIPCIC)
Looking Ahead
GLOBAL SECURITY & BRAND PROTECTION (GSBP) worldwide
10,000
Our team works with law enforcement to remove products bearing counterfeit UL Marks from the
marketplace and identify those responsible for their manufacture and distribution. Our program
NEW EUROPEan
GSBP LOCATION in
Industrial Fans
seized in Latin America
continues to grow and adapt to combat changing counterfeiting activities. We work closely with global
partners and UL customers to develop and implement solutions that halt the flow of these illegal and
Denmark
potentially dangerous goods.
Global GSBP Offices
TORONTO
CHICAGO
LOS ANGELES
DALLAS
DUBLIN
DENMARK
LONDON
NEW YORK
RESEARCH TRIANGLE
PARK, N.C.
SHANGHAI
GUANGZHOU
HONG KONG
In 2016, the Global Security & Brand
In 2017, the Global Security & Brand Protection team
Protection team invested resources
established a dedicated resource in Denmark that supports
in Latin America to combat the
anti-counterfeiting activities in Europe, Middle East
counterfeiting of UL Marked fans in
and Africa.
Panama. Our investigators worked
UL’s regional resources will partner with EUROPOL,
with local law enforcement to seize
Belgium Customs and the International A
­ nti­Counterfeiting
more than 10,000 industrial fans with
Coalition (IACC) to organize the EUROPOL Regional IP Crime
counterfeit UL Marks on the packaging
Conference in Antwerp, Belgium, on Sept. 19-20, 2017.
and the products. The GSBP team
continues to follow case leads in Panama
This regional IP Crime Conference will help build partnerships
and seize counterfeit UL Marked fans.
between public and private sector organizations throughout
Europe and will provide best practices designed to combat
counterfeiting and piracy crimes.
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7
UL Anti-Counterfeiting Report 2016
Case of the year
rest of asia
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979
At the end of 2015, there were a growing number of reports of self-balancing
349
EMEA
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retailer that was selling counterfeit UL Marked hoverboards. The GSBP team
­uncovered the online seller’s distribution source of the product.
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department to execute a search warrant at a
china
seized with an estimated value of $1 million.
494
UL MARKS Involved
87
+ 464
+ 1,325
Customs
Investigations
=
1,876
Total
­Investigations
for Year
5%
Top four cases per PRODUCT TYPE
16%
12%
35%
CASE N
­ UMBERS
Anti-Counterfeiting
Investigations
$1M
warehouse in City of Industry, Calif. The search resulted in 4,900 hoverboards
56%
online
Investigations
Estimated
Retail Value
On April 21, 2016, the Global Security & Brand Protection team partnered with
latin America
Cases per
GEOGRAPHIC
REGION
4,900
scooters (hoverboards) involved in various fires around the U.S. and the globe.
The Global Security & Brand Protection team investigated a ­popular online
Europe,
Middle East
and Africa
north America
Hoverboards
Seized
Holographic
Label
4% Other
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9
Power
Supplies
Electrical Systems for
Personal E-Mobility
Devices (Hoverboards)
11%
10%
Batteries
ITE Business
Equipment
15,800
10,000
seized in china
worth $145,000 (USD)
$200,000 (USD)
In August 2016, the Global Security
The Global Security & Brand Protection team investigations identified
In December 2016, several government
& Brand Protection team along with
a number of counterfeiters selling and distributing refurbished
agencies worked with the Global Security
Market and Quality Supervision
secondhand hard drives as new product. Based on the information
& Brand Protection team to conduct
Commission of Shenzhen Municipality
provided by UL, the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau
a seizure of counterfeit UL Marked
Intelligence-led investigations are utilized to identify counterfeiters
seized 15,800 USB adapters bearing
took a series of enforcement actions resulting in seizure of more
lighting products and counterfeit UL
and obtain evidence that can support criminal, civil or administrative
conterfeit UL Marks.
than 10,000 units of counterfeit UL Marked refurbished hard drives
labels. The seizure had an approximate
with the total value of more than $145,000 (USD).
value of $200,000 (USD). Government
EFFECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT:
GLOBAL
INVESTIGATIONS
Our global enforcement team is led by former law enforcement
officers with significant experience in investigating and prosecuting
counterfeiting offenses.
actions against them. We work very closely with global law enforcement
agencies and support their efforts to seize products, lay charges and
ultimately prosecute offenders.
USB Adapters
Lighting
units of hard Drives
The seizures resulted in nine prosecution cases against 24 suspects.
All prosecution cases were concluded in 2016 and resulted in the
conviction of the accused for counterfeiting registered trademarks.
The perpetrators were sentenced to more than 30 years in prison and
fined more than $98,000 (USD) in total. This case was recognized as
the 2015 National Court IP Typical Case – Trademark Criminal Case
and featured in China IP Magazine (Issue No. 111) in May 2016.
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products worth
agencies involved included Los Angeles
Police Department’s Anti-Piracy Team,
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Trade Fraud, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP)- Long Beach, Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the
Trace Task Force.
Popular and
new
destinations
for counterfeit UL marked products
EFFECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT:
GLOBAL border
protection
program
The Global Security & Brand Protection team continued to work closely with
various global customs agencies and received over 1,300 product
authentication requests to identify counterfeit UL Marked products. 2016 saw
the majority of our cases continuing to originate in the United States. Our
team worked closely with both U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP)
and local law enforcement agencies to identify and prevent counterfeit UL
Marked products from reaching the marketplace and endangering the public.
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Albania
Australia
Canada
China
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Mexico
Morocco
Mozambique
Pakistan
Peru
Philippines
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovenia
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
UAE
Ukraine
United Kingdom
USA
Vietnam
52,600
Hoverboards
seized in 22 states
In 2016, the Global Security & Brand protection team worked with U.S.
Customs & Border Protection and seized over 52,600 counterfeit UL Marked
hoverboards in 31 ports across 22 states.
100
enforcement officials
40
delegates present
in the U.S.
in Vietnam
joined UL Seminar
in UL workshop
In August 2016, the Global Security & Brand
In August 2016, a Global Security & Brand Protection representative presented
Protection team presented at the U.S.
a workshop titled: “Effective Corporate Practices in Enforcement of Intellectual
Customs and Border Protection Intellectual
Property Rights,” co-hosted by the Customs Division of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC
Property Rights Seminar and led three training
Customs) and the Intellectual Property Division of Ho Chi Minh City (IPD).
events. More than 100 front line enforcement
Approximately 40 delegates from HCMC Customs, National Customs, Provincial
officials from Los Angeles and Long Beach U.S.
and District Police, Department of Science and Technology, and IPD attended.
Customs and Border Protection attended the
training events.
The GSBP representative spoke about the importance of the UL certification
Mark and introduced UL’s anti-counterfeiting program. Samples of genuine and
Training topics during the seminar included
counterfeit sprinklers were used to demonstrate how to distinguish counterfeit
the importance of UL certification Marks,
products. According to participants’ feedback, the presentation
product verification techniques, global
was well-delivered, concise and useful for their daily work.
customs trends of counterfeit merchandise
and transnational enforcement cases.
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customer
focus
“As a certification company
that works with competing
companies on equal terms,
UL can also help build
industry-wide coalitions...”
– Dell
“We appreciate UL’s
collaboration helping Cree
to ensure that safe lighting
products are available in
the marketplace.”
– CREE Inc.
In 2016, the Global Security & Brand Protection team stayed
true to our department pillars of “enforcement, education and
partnerships” in support of our customers’ anti-counterfeiting
and brand protection needs. Our aim is to partner with our
customers to develop and implement solutions that halt the
flow of illegal and potentially dangerous goods.
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“The UL Global Security &
Brand Protection team is an
excellent resource to Digium.”
– Digium, Inc.
Apple & UL success story
99%
testing of
UL and Apple work together globally to fight fake
400
products, including shutting down counterfeit factories in China.
UL decided to evaluate the danger associated with the use of
counterfeit phone adapters. In a controlled test program
conducted by engineers at UL’s office in Toronto, 400 counterfeit
counterfeit
iPhone adapters
iPhone adapters with unauthorized UL ­certification Marks were
subjected to a subset of product certification tests to identify
to identify
potential safety risks
related to electric shock
potential safety risks related to electric shock.
The counterfeit adapters were obtained from multiple sources in
eight different countries around the world.
failure rate
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counterfeit
UL marked
Apple adapters
In Los Angeles
iPhones
sold worldwide since 2007*
Los Angeles, UL became aware of a distributor selling
Department, led to the execution of simultaneous
search warrants at the distributor’s downtown Los
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363
Failed electric
strength
Angeles locations. The raids resulted in the seizure
of 29,000 counterfeit UL Marked Apple adapters,
criminal charges against the seller and an additonal
civil action by UL to recover the counterfeiter’s
profits from its crime.
Separately, working with Customs officials in
Mexico, UL seized more than 90,000 counterfeit
Passed test
90,000
* “Apple celebrates one billion iPhones”,Web. July 27, 2016.
http://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/07/applecelebrates-one-billion-iphones.html
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While working with law enforcement agencies in
cooperation with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s
counterfeit
UL marked
Apple adapters
In Mexico
1 Billion
UL investigations highlight
the scope of counterfeits
in the marketplace.
counterfeit Apple adapters. UL’s investigation, in
Risk of
electrocution
Immediately
damaged
3
29,000
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adapters in a single shipment.
CUSTOMER experiences
“The UL anti-counterfeit training events are instrumental for our
“UL training events have enabled
Digium team as a means to learn best practices and process
Cree to more effectively alert law
“The two primary benefits [of attending UL’s anti-counterfeiting training events] are learning the cutting
implementation. We have particularly appreciated the opportunity to
enforcement organizations to the
edge best practices in anti-counterfeiting, and developing and deepening contacts with peers at other
interact with other brand partners and learn first-hand how they have
counterfeit products being imported
companies and law enforcement officials with whom we may partner on anti-counterfeiting efforts.
adopted new processes. I’ve found the other brand partners very open
and fraudulently sold online using
to sharing their stories and suggestions, providing for a mutually
our brand. We have seen our efforts,
beneficial exchange of ideas. In addition, seeing the law enforcement
using the knowledge from these
UL has strong law enforcement relationships around the world and can help us identify officers who are
interaction is rewarding. It’s important to realize that the law
training events, lead to an increase
willing and able to help us with anti-counterfeiting enforcement.
enforcement community is interested in pursuing and understanding
in counterfeit products seized. We
the issues surrounding counterfeiting in our industry.
appreciate UL’s collaboration helping
The knowledge and relationships I’ve built through these events have helped me do my job better.
As a certification company that works with competing companies on equal terms, UL can also help build
DELL //
Sanjiv Sarwate
industry-wide coalitions that would be more challenging to build without the involvement of a neutral party.”
Digium //
Gayle Magee
The UL Global Security & Brand Protection team is an excellent
resource to Digium. Not only have they shut down a Chinese
manufacturer of counterfeit goods for our brand, but they continue to
stay in communication with us concerning local brand security issues
Sr. Legal Director – Trademarks,
Director of Customer Success
as well. While we’re a small manufacturer compared to others in the
Dell | Legal
& Worldwide Distribution Sales,
industry, we are treated with respect by the global team and know
Digium, Inc.
that we are more than just a “number“ to UL. The entire UL staff has
been very easy to work with and are sympathetic to our cause.”
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Cree to ensure that safe lighting
products are available in the
marketplace.”
GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIPS
The Global Security & Brand Protection team continues to pursue
brand protection initiatives that help safeguard and maintain the
integrity of the UL family of Marks.
We partner with UL customers on joint investigations to remove
potentially dangerous products from the supply chain.
We also sponsor global conferences and educational workshops
that enable global law enforcement and private sector
stakeholders to discuss solutions to counterfeiting issues.
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working together in 2016
UL and
Michigan State
University
UL and
International
AntiCounterfeiting
Coalition (IACC)
United Arab Emirates in the fight
against intellectual property crimes
Latin American Regional Brand
Protection Summit
BPP Journal
The Global Security & Brand Protection
A-CAPP Center Brand Protection
Strategy Summit
In October 2016, the Gobal Security & Brand Protection
The Global Security & Brand Protection team and the
team partnered with the Center for Anti-­
A-CAPP is the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product
team participated in two anti-counterfeiting workshops in
International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) organized the
Counterfeiting and Product Protection
Protection at Michigan State University (MSU). During the
the Middle East. The event was supported by the Dubai
first IACC-UL Latin America Regional Brand Protection Summit.
at Michigan State University to launch
2016 A-CAPP Center Brand Protection Strategy Summit,
Police, Dubai Customs and the Department of Economic
The summit was held in June 2016. The two-day summit
a new journal aimed at serving as a
Warren MacInnis, Director, Brand Protection, received the
development.
featured remarks from high-level keynote speakers, panel
critical resource for the brand protection
Pioneer Award in recognition for UL’s partnership and
discussions with anti-counterfeiting thought leaders and
community. The Brand Protection
assistance in launching the Brand Protection Professional
networking sessions. Participants also had the unique
Professional (BPP) is a quarterly
(BPP) by A-CAPP Director Jeremy Wilson. The Pioneer
opportunity to meet with government officials from 15 Latin
electronic publication dedicated to
Award is an annual award given to those who have
American and Caribbean countries to discuss aspects of their
reporting on brand protection issues,
provided vision and service in support of the mission
governments’ IP enforcement and policies. Summit
research and professional information
of the A-CAPP Center. The Center has been recognizing
participants included 248 law enforcement and policy officials
for in-house brand protection
individuals with this award since 2013.
from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador,
professionals.
GSBP, working in partnership with the International
Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) and the Consumer
Protection Association of Saudi Arabia, presented at the
second workshop on the efforts of the United Arab Emirates
in the fight against intellectual property crimes for the
safety of the community. The event was well attended by
roughly 150 local authorities focusing on the dangers of
counterfeit electrical products in the marketplace.
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Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad
and Tobago, and Uruguay.
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The 10th annual International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is the global
was successfully co-hosted by INTERPOL and the City of London Police in
association of trademark owners and professionals dedicated to
partnership with UL on Sept. 19-20, 2016.
supporting trademarks and related intellectual property in order
to protect consumers and to promote fair and effective commerce.
10th
International
conferences
In 2016, UL’s Outreach & Capacity Building team participated in
Annual
International
Law Enforcement
60
countries
IP Crime
Conference
senior police
in
leaders
London
10,115
professionals
600
138th
Annual
International
Trademark
Assoction (INTA)
Conference
in
Orlando
140
countries
Globally recognized as the leading IP law enforcement conference of its
In May 2016, UL’s Global Security & Brand Protection team
kind, the 10th Annual International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference
participated in a dedicated Anti-Counterfeiting Day held by INTA
brought together nearly 600 senior police leaders, government officials
as part of its 138th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. UL participated
The cornerstone of UL’s committment to fighting IP crime is its focus
and security and industry experts as well as private sector participants
in a number of sessions providing practical anti-counterfeiting
on engaging law enforcement, the private sector and government
from more than 60 countries. The event provided a vital platform,
solutions, sharing best practices for working with investigators
agencies from around the world in a continuous dialogue about
gathering public and private sector organizations to share best practices,
and enforcement on counterfeit cases, and discussing training
education and solutions.
develop new tools and create stronger partnerships to advance the
resources available to brand owners, law enforcement and other IP
common purpose of combatting transnational organized IP crime,
professionals to help them combat counterfeiting more effectively
promoting safety worldwide and developing joint initiatives.
such as the International IP Crime Investigators College (IIPCIC).
The conference was a huge success and a number of new initiatives were
The number of brand management, trademark and IP
announced, including the development of a new operational model for
professionals registered for the 2016 annual conference topped
the International IP Crime Investigators College (IIPCIC). The online
10,115 from over 140 countries.
many initiatives designed to strengthen public and private sector
capabilities to combat counterfeiting and piracy crimes.
training platform has evolved into a globally recognized learning tool
accessed by 12,500 law enforcement users representing 562 agencies
across 156 countries. IIPCIC will evolve into a broader consortium of
partners from law enforcement, the private sector and academia.
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2016 IIPCIC Results
International
IP Crime
Investigators
College (IIPCIC)
12,556
Students Enrolled
Increased by 25%
compared to 2015
562
Agencies
Represented
156
Countries
Represented
deliver cutting-edge initiatives such as the
The core curriculum consists of 14 in-depth IP protection courses that provide the
International IP Crime Investigators College,
critical knowledge needed to combat current and emerging threats from IP criminals.
events for law enforcement worldwide.
New Courses
Launched
4.8
Course
Satisfaction
rating (out of 5)
31 % Africa
3% Middle East and North Africa
11% Asia and South Pacific
Working with our instructional design team, rights holders have the opportunity to
20 % Latin America
IIPCIC Students
by Region
create their own customized training courses, which are then delivered online to all
of IIPCIC’s more than 12,500 registered law enforcement and regulatory professionals
16 % North America
around the world.
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training center for global law enforcement, regulatory authorities and private sector
investigators.
IP Crime Conference and global training
Private Sector
Organizations
IIPCIC is a joint initiative of UL and INTERPOL, and the premier anti-counterfeiting
UL has partnered with INTERPOL to
the International Law Enforcement
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19 % Europe
International
IP Crime Investigators College (IIPCIC)
Courses Launched in 2016
Schneider Electric
Circuit Breakers
Identifying Counterfeits
Schneider Electric
Square D Circuit
Breakers
Bordeaux
Wine Council
Identifying Counterfeits
The Bordeaux Wine Council launched a
course to better assist law enforcement
Schneider Electric launched this course to help law
to understand geographical indications
enforcement identify counterfeit circuit breakers
and appellations of origin, come to know
and the information needed to contact Schneider
Schneider Electric is one of the world’s leading
Bordeaux Wines and the missions of the
Electric when they identify product they think may
suppliers of circuit breakers, offering the broadest
Bordeaux Wine Council. At completion of
be counterfeit. Because counterfeit circuit
array of products in the industry. The purpose of
this course law enforcement will be able
breakers pose a serious risk of electrical fires and
this course is to introduce law enforcement to
to identify counterfeit Bordeaux wines
electrocution, law enforcement’s work in stopping
Schneider Electric, Schneider Electric Square D
and know where to turn when law
the swell of these counterfeit products can save
circuit breakers and the information needed to
enforcement encounters suspected
lives. Available in English, with Spanish and French
identify counterfeit Square D circuit breakers, and
counterfeits or needs industry expertise.
coming in 2017.
the means to contact Schneider Electric when law
Available in English and Mandarin.
enforcement identifies product that may be
counterfeit. Available in English, with Spanish
coming in 2017.
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Looking Ahead
Networking
August 28-29
International Law Enforcement
Intellectual Property Crime Conference
New York city, New York
September 19-20
Europol Regional IP Crime Conference
Antwerp, Belgium
UL Events
June 7
World Anti-Counterfeiting Day
UL Locations
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For more information on our
global Brand protection and Anti-Counterfeiting activities please visit
www.ul.com/anti-counterfeiting
UL
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
www.UL.com
(c) 2017. UL LLC and the UL Logo are trademarks of UL LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this material may be reprinted in any form without the express written permission of UL LLC or otherwise provided in writing.
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