Bring Down Counterfeiting 2022: Policy Hackathon

Blue Clarity

We challenge you to present policy solutions  to combat counterfeiting.

George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government

<h2>Background</h2><p>Counterfeiting is an industry-wide, global issue, that affects all retail channels. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that pirated and counterfeit products make up 2.5 percent of world trade—that’s $464 billion a year, or roughly the gross domestic product of the country of Belgium. Counterfeiters deprive brand owners of the value of their intellectual property and compete unfairly with honest entrepreneurs. They are criminals that may also be associated with transnational networks engaged in a wide range of illicit behavior, including trafficking  in narcotics, arms, persons, and wildlife. Billions of dollars from these activities flow through the global economy each year, distorting local economies, diminishing legitimate business revenues, eroding social conditions, harming public safety and security, and fueling conflict.</p><p>The Internet has provided new opportunities and mechanisms for trading goods and services via e-commerce. At the same time, the openness of the Internet and the anonymity that surrounds many online transactions also make it attractive to counterfeiters, providing them with easy access to markets, with low risk of detection and, if caught, relatively low penalties in many jurisdictions. As highlighted by OECD research, in many jurisdictions “counterfeiting goes largely unpunished due to difficulties in coordinating effective responses and perceptions that these are ‘victimless’ crimes that do not warrant significant action,” among other challenges. Combating these crimes takes agile, multilateral, multidisciplinary teams using a full range of innovative tools. Cross-domain experts from government, industry, law enforcement, and social sciences together with technologists specializing in data mining and analysis, AI/ML, IP rights or other areas can make huge in-roads in detecting counterfeits and disrupting supply chains.</p><h2>The Challenge</h2><p>We challenge you to present a solution that enhances, or overcomes policy blockers (legal, regulatory, administrative) to effective public-private collaboration in the fight against counterfeiting. Ideas that enhance data sharing and operational collaboration among the private-sector and state, local, and federal law enforcement entities are of particular interest in this event. The results of this policy hackathon will provide input for a technology-focused follow up challenge.</p><h3>QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER MIGHT INCLUDE:</h3><p>What mechanisms (legal, policy, technical) would enable faster and more effective public and private sector information-sharing and collaboration on this issue? For example - </p><ul><li>Sharing information on the identification of new and emerging schemes to stay ahead of criminals involved in the trade of counterfeits</li><li>Connecting information about counterfeiters / related networks among federal, state, and local law enforcement in the US and globally to support investigations and successful prosecutions</li></ul><p>How can we increase transparency across supply chains to make it easier to identify the movement of counterfeit goods or counterfeit parts of goods?</p><ul><li>What tools could be developed for use by law enforcement authorities to identify counterfeits before they reach consumers or sale points?</li><li>How can mapping or other data visualizations of related data (e.g. supply chains) be used in this fight?</li></ul><p>How can we protect consumer safety through more proactive actions against counterfeiters?</p>

<h2>TEAMS</h2><ul><li>Teams can consist of up to five members. EVERY team member must register for the event. </li><li>Participants under the age of 18 will be required to complete a simple permission form to participate. Participants must be at least 13 years old.</li><li>Teams can be based anywhere in the world. Please note the scheduled live event times are in U.S. Eastern Time (GMT-04:00)</li><li>Entries submitted by employees of sponsoring companies or organizations will not be judged by a judge from the same company or organization.</li></ul>

<h2>RULES</h2><p>Check your Onboarding packet that came with your registration confirmation for more details, such as how to stay engaged and how to submit your solution.</p><ul><li>Teams can use their own research. Solutions must be their own original ideas.</li><li>Teams must be registered (check Schedule below) to qualify their submission for review.</li><li>The demonstration on November 5 will be in-person but reasonable accommodations will be made for teams that cannot be in-person. Instructions will be sent to the top teams to make those arrangements.</li></ul><p>Rules are subject to change.</p>

<h2>SUBMISSIONS</h2><p>Submissions must reflect the original work of the project team alone and must consist of the following components:</p><ul><li>Written concept paper (up to 5 pages) outlining Policy/Business Idea- Submission Template will be provided soon</li><li>Written application via DevPost outlining Prototype idea</li><li>Video pitch of prototype* demo (no more than 3 minutes)</li></ul><p><em>* A prototype should demonstrate the idea and how it works. It is a visual representation and should be functional in the sense that it might be clickable but does not require a database. It should NOT be a set of slides. Teams do not need to submit code but can if they desire to do so. A separate Slack channel will be provided for prototyping tips and suggestions for tools</em></p><p><em>**Submissions must be in English</em></p>

<h2>SCHEDULE</h2><h3>August 5, 2022</h3><ul><li>Registration Opens. (<em>Registration Closes October 7, 2022</em>)</li></ul><h3>August 27 - October 13, 2022</h3><ul><li>Webinars by Subject Matter Experts</li><li><strong>Saturday, August 27, 2022, 11 am EST</strong>- <strong>Hackathon Kick Off Event </strong> [VIRTUAL] </li><ul><li>Link will be provided to registered participants before the event</li></ul></ul><h3>October 2022</h3><ul><li><strong>October 7, 2022</strong> – Registration Closes 11:59 PM</li><li><strong>October 13, 2022</strong> – 5:00 PM EST Submissions Deadline - Submissions submitted via DevPost</li><li><strong>October 21, 2022</strong> – Finalists invited to Demo Day</li></ul><h3>November 2022</h3><ul><li><strong>Saturday, November 5, 2022</strong> -  <strong>Demo Day</strong> [IN-PERSON]</li></ul><ol><ul><li>Team Demos, Judging, Winners Announced</li><li>Location: TBD</li><li>Time TBD</li></ul></ol>

<h2>JUDGING CRITERIA </h2><p>Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria:</p><ul><li><strong>Impact:</strong> How impactful could this solution be to U.S. law enforcement at the state, local, or federal levels or to private-sector entities engaged in this fight against counterfeiting?</li><li><strong>Scalability:</strong> What is the potential for scalability? How costly would this solution be to bring to scale? Could it be accomplished under current authorities and resources or would it require new legislation and appropriations?</li><li><strong>Creativity:</strong> How original is this solution? Does it set itself apart from existing solutions? Does it demonstrate outside-the-box thinking?</li><li><strong>Design:</strong> Is this solution thoughtful and complete? Is the strategy appropriate?</li></ul>

<h2>JUDGES</h2><h3><strong>Paul DelPonte</strong> - Executive Director - National Crime Prevention Council</h3><h3><strong>J﻿ames Mancuso</strong> - Director - National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center</h3><h3><strong>K﻿ari Kammel</strong> - Director &amp; Senior Academic Specialist - Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection, Michigan State University</h3><h3><strong>Tania Maestas</strong> - Deputy Director and General Counsel - Attorney General Alliance</h3><h3><strong>Kebharu Smith</strong> - Director - Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU)</h3><h3><strong>Caridad Berdut</strong> - Senior Counsel for Enforcement - United States Patent and Trademark Office</h3>

<h2>PRIZES</h2><p>Projects will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined above. Winning teams must designate one team member who is able to receive the prize(s) on behalf of the team. This team member must be able to complete an IRS Form W-9 in order to receive a cash prize on behalf of the team. If a team member is a minor, a parent may complete the form on behalf of the team member. </p><p>All prizes are subject to change.</p><p></p><h3>The prize pool has expanded!</h3><h3>Grand Prize: <strong>$20,000</strong></h3><h3>Second prize: <strong>$15,000</strong></h3><h3>Crowdsource prize: <strong>$2,000</strong></h3><h3>Student prize: <strong>$5,000</strong></h3><h3>CINA Follow-on Research Project Prize: <strong>$10,000 </strong>in research funding (See <a href="https://expeditionhacks.com/counterfeiting/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">official event site</a> for details!) </h3><h3></h3>

<h2>Register Now!</h2><p>Teams must register before October 7, 2022, 11:59 PM EST.</p><h2>TOOLS, DATA, AND IP RIGHTS</h2><p>Participants are allowed to use any commercially known open source tools. Participants are also encouraged to use their own proprietary solutions to develop creative and efficient products. If you are representing a company, your company’s proprietary software assets are also allowed to be used with the appropriate permission within your organization. Please reference the Terms and Conditions to confirm that all IP rights remain with the participant and/or the organization they are representing. </p><p>By registering, you agree to the <a href="https://expeditionhacks.com/participant-agreement" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Terms and Conditions</a> and consent to the <a href="https://expeditionhacks.com/av/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Audio/Visual Release</a>.</p>

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