Mission Statement
The Authentics Foundation is an international nongovernmental organization dedicated to raising public awareness of counterfeits. Its primary goal is to inform consumers about the negative aspects of the counterfeit market, including money laundering, drug cartels, paramilitary involvement, organized criminal gang associations, child labor, and risks to one’s safety.
Myauthentics.com is the foundation’s website, letting you know about the latest counterfeiting news, and also helping you spot the fakes flooding your markets so you can make safe, smart choices. In addition to its website, The Authentics Foundation hosts events across the globe to spread the word about fakes. One such event was recently held at the London School of Economics, where Intellectual Property lawyer Frederick Mostert and noted journalist and author Dana Thomas spoke about the hidden costs of counterfeiting. It was attended by students and community members alike, and is an example of the foundations grassroots-focused approach.
The Authentics Foundation was started by Frederick Mostert, Princess Corinna Sayn Wittgenstein, Timothy Trainer and Chen Xuemin, who are also involved in the Confucius Foundation—a charity that helps kids beat the sweatshop cycle and return to school. The foundation helps others recognize that Fakes Cost More in the hopes of building a safer market and world.
Why Our Site?
To most people, Intellectual Property is just an obscure legal term, but Authentics is here to let you, as a consumer, know about what counterfeits fund and how they may be harmful.
The Authentics Foundation takes an open approach to its website. We want to hear from you, whether it’s in our comments section or over email. This is a space where you can talk about fakes--anonymously, if you want--and exactly what they mean to society.
Most especially, we understand that counterfeiting seems like no big deal to many people. They may be banned, but fakes are rampant and perhaps even accepted. The truth behind knockoffs, though, is a lot more serious than you’d think.
Everything you use can be counterfeit. This isn’t just about phony handbags, but about the medicine you take, the wine you drink, the batteries you put in your wireless mouse. Can you imagine taking fake heart medication, that doesn’t contain anything but talcum powder? That’s exactly what’s happening in the counterfeit medication world, and is responsible for recent deaths.
It may look real, but can you be sure?
You shouldn’t have to ask these questions. But since you do, there’s myauthentics.com, which keeps you up-to-date on what to avoid and how to stay away from fakes.
Founders
Frederick Mostert
Frederick Mostert is a Guest Professor at Peking University, principal author of “Famous and Well-known Marks” and past President of the International Trademark Association. He also serves on various not for profit advisory boards including the Art Science Research Laboratory in New York, which provides educational courses over the internet. Mostert is a founding member and President of the Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations Foundation, which helps under privileged children and their families in China by subsidizing their educations.
Tim Trainer
Tim Trainer began his intellectual property career at the US Customs Service and has also worked at the US Patent and Trademark Office. In the private sector he has practiced law in Washington D.C.. Before establishing his current IP law and consulting firm, he was President of a Washington, D.C. based trade association aimed at promoting protection and enforcement of IP.
Chen Xuemin
Chen Xuemin is a partner at Zhongzi Law Office, an intellectual property law firm based in Beijing. He was listed as one of the "World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners" (by MIP Magazine in 2004 and 2006). He served on the Board of International Trademark Association (2003-2005) and is a Director of Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations Foundation.
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