Counterfeit imported mobile phones cause Nokia's attention

Flying Image Network (compiled 文慧) according to foreign media reports, a Nokia security experts said recently, because of the influx of counterfeit mobile phones, Kenya may lose 3.2 billion shillings (about 38 million U.S. dollars) of tax revenue. The Middle East and Africa region's brand protection Manager Mr Abdullah (Abdullahasayen) said the high popularity of counterfeit equipment had a negative impact on operator network performance and customer satisfaction. At the same time, such products also reduce operators ' profits and government revenue. Mr Abdullah made the remarks during the training of officials at the Weights and Measures Bureau (weights& Measures Department, Kenya Standards Office and anti-counterfeiting agencies).　　The training is part of a Nokia Anti-counterfeiting program that includes 25 officials from various government departments.　　Mr Abdullah noted that the protection of intellectual property rights had led to significant risks in the research and development of information and communication technology (ICT) companies in Kenya. "Counterfeit equipment is an illegal import that does not pay tariffs or pay value-added tax," he said. This leads to an average annual tax loss of 283.2 billion shillings (3,500 to 40 million dollars) per African country. Counterfeit products also weaken the attractiveness of local economic development because international companies will shift their direct investment to other countries that can protect their intellectual property. "Forgery is an illegal use of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, designs and copyrights."　　In recent years, global counterfeit products have been rampant due to technology transfer, Internet trade and the convenience of export transactions, and the recent economic crisis. "As a global company, Nokia is leading the way in providing quality genuine products and partnering with a number of organizations, including the Intellectual Property Union (CIPR) and the International Anti-Counterfeit Alliance (IACC)," said Kennethoyolla, general manager of Nokia's East Africa and Southern Africa. We continue to advocate for the legislation, regulation and enforcement of anti-counterfeit policies to protect the wider industry because we believe that companies that are truly law-abiding should receive government and policy support. "Customer service and quality is very important to Nokia," says Mr Kenneth. Our suggestion is that customers should purchase Nokia products from authorized distributors and retailers to ensure that they receive a 12-month warranty. If a user buys a product from an unauthorized reseller, it should be extra cautious, especially if the price is significantly lower than that authorized by the Nokia dealer. Nokia has proposed a strong implementation that is essential to protect legitimate businesses from counterfeit products.　　Mr Abdullah said the plan should include two aspects of goods and commodities sold at the border. "Brand owners should provide inspectors who receive regular product training and who can differentiate between genuine and counterfeit products," he said. The move would allow them to label or question a consignment of goods. Different government departments should be secretTo co-operate and implement appropriate enforcement procedures. The establishment of a joint task force to jointly manage this law enforcement process would be a good option. This helps to protect consumers and legitimate businesses, while also creating an environment that attracts foreign investment.　　Mr Abdullah points out that while Nokia has been working with government departments, a carefully crafted industry plan will help speed up the spread of counterfeit products in Kenya. He said that counterfeit equipment without warranty, resulting in low consumer satisfaction, negative impact, especially for low-income consumers. Counterfeit handsets use substandard accessories, which may contain hazardous chemicals such as lead and mercury, and do not meet safety standards such as RF launches.　　Thus, such products pose a threat to the safety of consumers. The 20-nation group is estimated to have lost as much as $85 billion a year in tax losses caused by counterfeiting and piracy, as well as higher unemployment benefits. The International Anti-Pseudo Alliance (IACC) estimates that international forged trade is worth 600 billion a year, accounting for the Law of World trade volume.