Counterfeit Dietary Supplements: Reducing Your Risk and Fighting Back

Event Start Date
Jul 15, 2021
Event Start Time
1 pm ET
Event End Date
Jul 15, 2021
Event End Time
3 pm ET

Contact Gretchen Powers to inquire about on-demand access.

Counterfeit dietary supplements are unfortunately an all-too-common problem. These are often finished products that look identical to the real thing—down to the near perfect, convincing label! Counterfeit and pirated products accounted for as much as half a trillion U.S. dollars in world trade in 2016 and FDA acknowledges that the sheer magnitude of the potential crime makes prevention difficult—along with the difficulty in tracking down the perpetrators.

This leaves brand owners potentially liable if a buyer is harmed—and reputation is also at stake when it comes to knock-offs. When buyers don’t experience the desired effects of the product they take, it reflects poorly on the brand.

Brands can fight back and activate smart strategies to protect their good name—and consumers. Join CRN and Natural Products Insider for a webinar to get advice on steps companies can take to protect their products from being counterfeited—and how to take action if your brand does get copied.

Learn from legal, trade, e-commerce, and regulatory presenters and hear about industry experiences with knockoffs, counterfeiting and IP infringement.

Participants will gain a better understanding of:

  • How widespread the problem of counterfeiting is and the costs
  • How to monitor the market for counterfeit goods
  • Strategies to limit opportunities for fraud
  • Unique challenges for e-commerce
  • Risks from importation
  • Legal, regulatory, and practical considerations

In addition, participants will gain insights into the likelihood their company’s products will be targeted and what to do if a counterfeit version of their product is discovered in the market. We’ll also discuss potential legislative efforts to help consumers identify unscrupulous vendors and counterfeit goods, and help companies to prosecute criminal counterfeiters and trademark/copyright infringement.

Join us to hear from these experts:

  • Jason Rosenberg, Partner, Alston & Bird
  • Raj Sapru, Chief Operating Officer & Director of Strategy, Netrush
  • Michelle Sara KingIntellectual Property Team Lead & Senior International Trade Specialist, Office of Standards and Intellectual Property, Industry & Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
  • Nicholas Ahrens, Vice President, Innovation, Retail Industry Leaders Association
  • Zorita PopSenior Legal Counsel, IP and Digital, Nestlé


Moderated by: 

 

Learn more about our speakers: 

Jason Rosenberg, Partner, Alston & Bird

As the head of Alston & Bird’s Trademark & Copyright practice, Jason protects some of the world's most famous brands against counterfeiters, trademark infringers. and cybersquatters in the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, he prosecutes and defends copyright matters covering a wide variety of industries.  In recent years, his practice has included a significant amount of work protecting companies in disputes relating to health and wellness supplements for humans and animals.  A graduate of Emory University and Northwestern Law, Jason is based in the firm’s Atlanta office.

 

Raj Sapru, Chief Operating Officer & Director of Strategy, Netrush

As COO of Netrush, Raj’s focus is on long-term, organizational planning and connecting corporate strategy with execution. Before joining Netrush, Raj consulted for leading, global companies including GE, AT&T, and Hitachi. His role is critical in supporting the processes that make Netrush the preeminent, forward-thinking partner for brands looking to grow on the digital shelf.

 

Michelle Sara King, Intellectual Property Team Lead & Senior International Trade Specialist, Office of Standards and Intellectual Property, Industry & Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Michelle Sara King currently serves as the Intellectual Property Team Lead and Senior International Trade Specialist in the Office of Standards and Intellectual Property (OSIP) at the International Trade Administration (ITA).  Michelle has over two decades of experience in policy, external relations, advocacy and communications.  Michelle joined ITA in April 2021 after leading King Consults which focused on intellectual property, trade and health policy.

Before starting King Consults, Michelle worked at the International Trademark Association (INTA) helping to lead all DC policy and advocacy.  Michelle built her DC career working in the health policy field at Covance Health Economics and Outcomes Services, the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the American Association of Health Plans.

In her personal capacity, Michelle serves on the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Regional Board Executive Committee, the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Leadership Development Committee, and the Women’s Congressional Golf Association (WCGA) Board. Michelle has a BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College and a Juris Doctor from the American University: Washington College of Law.

 

Nicholas Ahrens, Vice President, Innovation, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Nicholas Ahrens is RILA's lead advocate on technology policy including, privacy, competition, cybersecurity, and innovation. In addition, Ahrens co-founded and leads RILA's Retail Innovation Center and oversees RILA's privacy and innovation executive communities.

Prior to joining RILA, Ahrens served at the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Counsel to the General Counsel. He provided strategic legal and policy advice on a variety of issues including data privacy and cybersecurity and managed a legal office with more than 325 lawyers across all Bureaus of the Department of Commerce.

Ahrens holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. He is a Future of Privacy Forum Advisory Board Member.

 

Zorita PopSenior Legal IP Counsel & Digital & Anti-counterfeiting Lead, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.

Zorita Pop is a civil and common law qualified lawyer defending iconic brands for more than 16 years. She is passionate about ensuring that intellectual property is respected and benefits consumers. She is experienced in Intellectual Property Law, Anti-counterfeiting, Trademark Infringement, Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Legal Advice. In Nestlé, she is leading the Global Anti-counterfeiting Program and she is the Legal IP Counsel supporting Nestlé Health Science, a leader in the field of nutritional science, committed to redefining the management of health, offering to consumers an extensive portfolio of science-based consumer health, medical nutrition and supplement brands.

 

Jim Griffiths, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Scientific & International Affairs, CRN

Dr. Griffiths is responsible for CRN’s science-based international policy and regulatory work, and is the CRN staff liaison for CRN-International (CRN-I). He has more than 30 years of experience in the area of food safety and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining CRN, he spent five years with the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) where he managed food and dietary supplement strategic initiatives, including those related to global food and dietary supplement alliances. He began his career as a regulatory review toxicologist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. His background also includes various scientific and regulatory positions at Burdock and Associates, the Flavor & Extract Manufacturers’ Association, International Specialty Products, Avon Products, and others. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed publications and has an adjunct faculty appointment at the JSS University System in Mysore, Karnataka, India. Dr. Griffiths holds a B.A. in biology from Columbia Union College in Maryland, earned his Ph.D. in Toxicology from Rutgers University & Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, and completed post-doctoral training at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany.

 

Contact Gretchen Powers to inquire about on-demand access.