As general counsel for BIC Corporation, Steve Burkhart leads the family-owned company’s efforts to stop counterfeit products from proliferating across a growing number of e-commerce platforms. He shared insights on how his team stays ahead of the threat, and what other general counsel can do to safeguard their company’s intellectual property rights.
BIC recently filed a lawsuit to stop importation of knock-offs. What can you tell us about the status of the lawsuit, and how do you stay apprised of counterfeit breaches by third-party sources?
The cases were filed in the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York in December 2018. Defendants have been served and the discovery process is underway. In the coming months we are confident we will prove our case against the manufacturers of the Chinese-made, knock-off pocket lighters, and those U.S. companies that import and sell them. Read the full interview.