We hope our American readers are enjoying barbeques and fireworks on this July 4th. We at InkSure are also enjoying Independence Day celebrations, but we felt it was important to take a few minutes to deal with an important piece of business.

Last week Senator Whitehouse introduced the Combating Military Counterfeits Act bill into the United States Senate. In Whitehouse's words this bill is "intended to help military suppliers by deterring criminals from selling counterfeits to them or to their subcontractors."

There are currently tens of thousands of soldiers serving overseas to preserve the freedom that allows us to celebrate Independence Day every year. Counterfeit equipment not only puts soldiers and civilians in danger, but it benefits people trying to undermine America's war efforts for their own financial gain.  

What can we do as anti-counterfeiting suppliers, brand protection professionals and ordinary citizens to help get the Combating Military Counterfeits Act bill passed into law?

If you are an American citizen you can write to your senator and explain that you think keeping our soldiers safe from counterfeits should be a national priority. You can also explain that you wish for legitimate companies to receive the revenues owed to them rather than counterfeiters. It is also worth mentioning that counterfeits cost thousands of American jobs every year, making this an effort that can solve multiple problems.

If you work for an American company that is in the anti-counterfeiting or brand protection industry, you are perfectly positioned to educate law makers and the American public about the dangers and economic consequences of counterfeiting. Now is the time to publish or republish any research you have on the dangers of counterfeiting and how to stop it. You can also lobby senators that represent the state or states you are incorporated in as experts in the field.

If you work in anti-counterfeiting or brand protection but not for an American company, you can help by supplying any research or information you have to your American colleagues or to the American press. You can also provide staff and resources for the effort if you are able.

If you work for a brand owner, you are in a unique position to show by example. You can show lawmakers anti-counterfeiting and brand protection strategies that you have used that you know work. Many law makers will have to be convinced that efforts to keep counterfeit military equipment out of the supply chain will not be in vain. You are in a position of showing them effective anti-counterfeiting and brand protection strategies that will not only achieve the goal of reducing military counterfeits, but actually increase revenue (and by extension tax revenue) for military suppliers.

Of course there is greater strength in numbers. The anti-counterfeiting and brand protection industry have many industry associations that regularly educate the public and lobby congress.  BASCAP and other groups regularly advocate for the industry on these types of issues and we are sure this time will not be an exception. If we work together, we can get this important bill passed and perhaps others in the future.

In the meantime, Happy Independence Day!

Are you involved in getting the Combating Military Counterfeits Act of 2011passed or other important brand protection legislation? Then we invite you to blog about it on The Anti-Counterfeiting Blog. Write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .