IACC: How SMEs are taking on counterfeiters

SMEs need to pay heed to the threat of counterfeiters in order to realise their potential, argues Travis Johnson of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition.

A little over 40 years ago, a handful of companies joined forces to establish the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC). While those founding members, and others who have joined the coalition over the past four decades, include some of the world’s most well-known brands, it is worth taking a step back to consider our roots.

Many brands have become so ubiquitous and ingrained in our daily lives that it is difficult to remember a time when they weren’t around. In reality, however, a significant portion of the IACC’s members did not exist when the organisation was founded, and many others were in their infancy—operating out of homes, garages, or the backs of cars.

It goes without saying that the road from “startup” to “global brand” is an exceedingly difficult one, even under the best of circumstances. Unfortunately, counterfeiting is increasingly making that journey even more difficult for today’s small businesses who are seeking to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.