August Marks National Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Education & Awareness Month

Toy Association Continues to Fight Back Against Dangerous of Counterfeit Toys

August 3, 2023 | The Senate introduced a bipartisan resolution on July 31 to designate August as National Anti-Counterfeiting Consumer Education and Awareness Month. The resolution, which aligns with The Toy Association’s advocacy to protect consumers from the threat of fake toys sold online, recognizes the importance of trademarks in the economy and the role they have in protecting consumer safety.

The Toy Association has been a vocal advocate against counterfeit and illicit goods and continues to work tirelessly to educate the public on the dangers of fake toys and to highlight the responsible toy businesses that adhere to more than 100 safety standards and tests required by federal law.

The Association also works proactively with congressional officials on IP protection bills. Most recently, Gibbons highlighted the importance of the reintroduction of the SHOP SAFE Act, which emphasizes the need for online platforms to meet the same requirements and liabilities as traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. The bill was most recently included in the 2022 America COMPETES Act, but was removed before the final text was signed into law.

The Association has also testified before the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to seek additional funding to address oversight on dangerous counterfeit products coming into the U.S. and worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other agencies on anti-counterfeiting measures to reduce the number of fake toys entering the country, among other efforts.

For more information on The Toy Association’s advocacy work on counterfeits and IP protection, visit thetoyassociation.org/advocacy. Toy Association members who wish to join in our advocacy efforts are encouraged to reach out to The Toy Association’s Jennifer Gibbons for more information.