Barasneh and Saad Sarhan partner with Customs Authority to lead fight for intellectual property protection
4 workshops in collaboration with gov’t entities in Cairo and coastal cities to strengthen investment climate, protect intellectual property
In a strategic initiative to bolster Egypt’s investment climate and safeguard innovators’ rights, Barasneh Intellectual Property (BIP) and Saad Sarhan Intellectual Property, in collaboration with the Egyptian Customs Authority, organised a week-long series of specialised training workshops. The sessions focused on developing advanced mechanisms to protect intellectual property rights and combat trademark counterfeiting in the Egyptian market.
The workshops were held across Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, and Suez (Ain Sokhna), with high-level participation from sovereign and regulatory bodies, including the Egyptian Customs Authority, the General Authority for Export and Import Control, security agencies, and representatives of leading global companies.
National vision for safe investment environment
These events reflect the shared role of the public and private sectors in protecting creativity and fostering a stable, attractive environment for global brands. The workshops highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to combat counterfeiting and emphasised the severe economic risks of forgery, which deplete state resources and undermine innovation incentives.
In his address, Ahmed Al-Barasneh, founding partner of Barasneh Intellectual Property, stressed that intellectual property protection has evolved beyond a legal formality to become “a national, economic, and security imperative.” He added: “With its strategic logistics and promising manufacturing capabilities, Egypt is a key hub for international trade. Protecting it from counterfeit goods is essential for consumer safety and for encouraging foreign investment.”
Expanding reach to critical ports
Saad Sarhan, legal advisor and founder of Saad Sarhan Intellectual Property, underlined that combating commercial fraud is fundamental to the growth of emerging economies. He noted that the company has extended its activities to coastal governorates and vital customs ports such as Port Said and Ain Sokhna, recognising that ports are the first line of defence against counterfeit imports.
Sarhan warned that lax enforcement of trademark rights undermines market credibility. He stressed that these workshops provide a direct platform for technical knowledge exchange between brand owners and law enforcement authorities, fostering proactive solutions to reduce counterfeiting. He also praised the role of Egyptian enforcement agencies in protecting intellectual property and trademark rights.
Customs Authority: Frontline of enforcement
Mohamed Ahmed Maher, Director of Intellectual Property Rights at the Egyptian Customs Authority, highlighted the authority’s role as a strong enforcement arm in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior. “National security begins with ensuring that only genuine products pass through our official ports,” he said. Maher also stressed the importance of specialised legal representatives, such as Barasneh Intellectual Property and Saad Sarhan, in assisting foreign companies and facilitating immediate enforcement and protection measures.
Practical training: How to spot counterfeit products
The workshops featured hands-on sessions where international experts demonstrated live techniques for distinguishing authentic products from fakes:
Swiss watches: Identifying precise internal mechanisms and unique manufacturing marks.
Global Fashion Brands (Lacoste, Gant, Puma, Under Armour): Examining fabric quality, logo details, and advanced stitching techniques.
Medical supplies and spare parts: Highlighting packaging tampering risks and the use of tax identification numbers as a digital trace for origin verification.
Electronics (Casio): Identifying distinguishing marks, laser engravings, and circuit quality.
Concluding message and recognition
The workshops concluded with a unified message: combating counterfeiting is a “collective responsibility” requiring continuous legislative updates and professional staff training.
In recognition of exceptional contributions, Casio honoured government officials who achieved significant success in tackling major cases and protecting intellectual property in Egypt.
Laurent Venetz, founder of ‘Consu Trust’ and legal advisor for several Swiss and international brands, also praised Egypt’s enforcement agencies for their effective role in controlling infringement and counterfeit crimes, presenting awards to officials in recognition of their tangible contributions to combating trademark counterfeiting and forgery.
