Recognizing WSIS Impacts

WTDC RESOLUTION 79 (Dubai, 2014)

The role of telecommunications/information and communication technologies in combating and dealing with counterfeit telecommunication/information and communication devices

The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Dubai, 2014),

• recalling
  • a) Resolution 177 (Guadalajara, 2010) of the Plenipotentiary Conference, on conformance and interoperability, which instructs the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, in close collaboration with the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau, to assist Member States in addressing their concerns with respect to counterfeit equipment;
  • b) Resolution 64 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on protecting and supporting users/consumers of telecommunication services/information and communication technologies (ICTs);
  • c) Resolution 76 (Rev. Dubai, 2012) of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), on studies related to conformance and interoperability testing, assistance to developing countries, and a possible future ITU Mark programme;
  • d) Resolution 47 (Rev. Dubai, 2014) of this conference, on enhancement of knowledge and effective application of ITU Recommendations in developing countries, including conformance and interoperability testing of systems manufactured on the basis of ITU Recommendations, and in particular assistance to developing countries in addressing their fears in relation to counterfeit equipment;
  • e) Resolution 79 (Dubai, 2012) of WTSA, on the role of telecommunications/ICTs in handling and controlling e‑waste from telecommunication and information technology equipment and methods of treating it,
• recognizing
  • a) that counterfeit telecommunication/ICT products and devices have become a growing problem in the world, adversely affecting to a large extent all stakeholders in the ICT field (vendors, governments, operators and consumers);
  • b) that several countries have introduced some awareness-raising campaigns, practices and regulations in their markets in order to limit and deter counterfeit products and devices, which have had a positive impact, and that developing countries may benefit from this experience,
• taking into account
  • a) that, with the boom in telecommunications/ICTs, counterfeit telecommunication/ICT devices have increased noticeably in recent times;
  • b) that these counterfeit devices affect economic growth and intellectual property rights, impede innovation, are hazardous to health and safety and have an impact on the environment and the increasing amount of harmful e‑waste;
  • c) that ITU and relevant stakeholders have a key role to play in fostering coordination between the parties concerned to study the impact of counterfeit devices and the mechanism for limiting them and to identify ways of dealing with them internationally and regionally,
• aware
  • a) that governments play an important role in combating the manufacture of and international trade in counterfeit and copied devices by formulating appropriate strategies, policies and legislation;
  • b) of the current work and studies in Study Group 11 of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU‑T) and of relevant activities in other relevant forums;
  • c) of the ongoing work and studies begun in Study Group 1 and being continued in Study Group 2 of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU‑D) under Question 8/2, on strategies and policies for the proper disposal or reuse of telecommunication/ICT waste material;
  • d) of the current work and studies in ITU‑T Study Group 5, on the health and environmental impact of telecommunication equipment, particularly peripheral, mobile and handheld equipment,
• resolves to instruct the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, in close collaboration with the Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau
  • 1 to continue to increase and develop ITU activities on combating, and ways of limiting the spread of, counterfeit devices;
  • 2 to assist Member States, particularly developing countries, in addressing their concerns regarding counterfeit devices;
  • 3 to continue to work in collaboration with stakeholders (such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)), including academia and relevant organizations, to coordinate activities relating to combating counterfeit devices through study groups, focus groups and other related groups;
  • 4 to organize seminars and workshops to raise awareness of the health and environmental risks of using counterfeit devices and ways of limiting them, particularly in developing countries, which are the most at risk from the dangers of counterfeit devices;
  • 5 in collaboration with WTO, WIPO and other relevant bodies, to restrict the trading, export and circulation of counterfeit devices internationally;
  • 6 to submit periodic reports on the implementation of this resolution,
• instructs ITU‑D Study Group 2, in collaboration with the relevant ITU study groups
  • 1 to prepare and document examples of best practices on limiting counterfeit and copied devices, for distribution to ITU Member States and Sector Members;
  • 2 to prepare guidelines, methodologies and publications to assist Member States in identifying counterfeit devices and methods of increasing public awareness to restrict trade in these devices, as well as the best ways of limiting them;
  • 3 to study the impact of counterfeit telecommunication/ICT devices being transported to developing countries;
  • 4 to continue studying safe ways of disposing of the harmful e‑waste from the counterfeit devices currently in circulation in the world,
• invites Member States
  • 1 to take all necessary measures to combat counterfeit devices;
  • 2 to cooperate and exchange expertise among themselves in this area;
  • 3 to incorporate policies to combat counterfeit devices in their national telecommunication/ICT strategies,
• invites telecommunication operators
  • to cooperate with governments, administrations and telecommunication regulators in combating counterfeit devices, restricting trade in these devices and disposing of them safely,
  • encourages Member States, Sector Members and Academia
  • to participate actively in ITU‑D studies relating to combating counterfeit devices by submitting contributions and in other appropriate ways.