Ukraine Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (UAACP) is a non-governmental, non-profit, voluntary association of legal entities carrying out the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. The UAACP’s activity encompasses legal, educational work and conducting research aiming at development and maintenance of effective IPR protection system in Ukraine and ensuring maximum awareness of the Ukrainians about IP rights, risks and consequences of purchasing counterfeit and pirated good.

In spring 2012 the Ukraine Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (UAACP) in cooperation with government authorities and the International Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ICC Ukraine) launched the continuing awareness-raising campaign titled “Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy Days in Ukraine” held under the slogans “I Buy Real!, I Don’t Buy Fakes!”. Having launched this campaign the Ukrainians became the part of the international World Anti-Counterfeiting Day movement initiated by the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG Network).

During four years of its existence the UAACP has carried out around 30 various activities for the representatives of government authorities and businesses, students, pupils, media and broader public covering over 9 thousand people. The participants of the events had an opportunity to familiarize with the samples of counterfeit and pirated goods gathered in the UAACP Museum of Counterfeits, most of which were provided by Pakharenko and Partners IP and Law Firm, test their consumer skills by trying to identify the counterfeit features in the goods. At some other events the participants could express their attitude towards counterfeits using pencils and paints. The creative works of participants were used for publication of awareness-raising flyers of UAACP.

During its activities the UAACP was studying the public opinion on consuming counterfeit goods; the event participants were filling in the survey forms answering questions on whether they had happened to buy counterfeits and whether these purchases were made intentionally. The survey results showed that the majority of respondents were purchasing counterfeits unknowingly as result of confusion with the original goods; however having realized that they have been deceived, they will try to be more cautious.

On December 10, 2015 the Ukraine’s first permanent exhibition of the Museum of Counterfeits of the UAACP was opened in the premises of the Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine (KUL of NASU) at 7a Dobrokhotova Street. The room where the museum is located is used as a classroom for students and UAACP is using this room for carrying out its awareness-raising activities. At the times between lessons the people may visit the museum and view its exhibits.

In June 2016 the UAACP received its first award for its large-scale educational activity in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. It became the winner of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Award sponsored and organized by “Managing IP” and GACG Network.

For more detailed information about the activities of the UAACP please visit the website www.uaacp.org.