Since the 13th century honest traders have been protected by the Capitularies of Venetian Arts, which provided for the punishment of anyone who made spectacles with glass lenses, but passed them off as crystal.

It was not by chance that The Most Serene Republic of Venice transferred the entire production of glass to the island of Murano to protect the inventors’ industrial secrets.
It was not by chance that The Most Serene Republic of Venice transferred the entire production of glass to the island of Murano to protect the inventors’ industrial secrets. Over seven centuries later, eyeglasses have evolved to become a necessary accessory and a sought-after fashion item and counterfeiting continues to inflict considerable damage on companies that invest energy and capital to offer a top-quality product. Moreover, the global market does not permit entrepreneurs to restrict their environments; on the contrary, it obliges them to attend various international exhibitions to present their creations to the public at large.

This is why exhibitions are also fertile ground for dishonest exhibitors who totally disregard the most elementary rules of commercial correctness and take advantage of the presence of millions of visitors to sell counterfeit products.

Mido has always been attentive to the needs of its exhibitors and to legal aspects and for over fifteen years it has offered an Anti-counterfeiting Service during the Exhibition, which protects exhibitors and informs them about their industrial patent rights.

With the invaluable collaboration of the Centro Studi Anticontraffazione, over the years the service has been modified and expanded. We hope that this publication will provide everyone with valid assistance as well as being a guide to the fundamental principles of Intellectual Property, an inestimable asset for the country.

Astrid Galimberti
General Director