Consorzio Promovero Murano, Regione del Veneto, The City of Venice, the Chamber of Commerce of Venice, various Consumers’ Association and Venice Craftsmen Association are joining their forces to fight the selling of not original and counterfeit products.
Today these local institutions are signing together an agreement for the protection of Murano Glass and the Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark, together with other typical Venetian products, like traditional masks and Burano lace.
If the origin of the products is not protected there is a possibility for them to disappear forever and for Murano glass in particular to be produced anywhere, as in a sort of paradox.
As the Vetro Artistico® Murano Trademark law says, Murano glass is not merely a profession or a raw material, but a place of origin and well defined space.
Promovetro, which is now leaded by the new board of directors, in office since October 2011, to fight all unfair trades and competitions, and to promote local craftsmanship and the millennial art of Murano, has launched a series of initiatives. The most peculiar one has been the creation and distribution to all residents of Venice of a pamphlet Mille anni di storia, vogliamo davvero buttarli via?, belonging to a campaign dedicated to residents, shops and retailers. The main aim there was to spread the awareness on original products and to give information about the not original ones, realised outside of Venice and sold as if they were made there.
“We are extremely satisfied with this agreement” – says Luciano Gambaro, President of Consorzio Promovetro, “which helps the Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark to protect what is an excellence not only for Venice, Veneto or Italy, but for the whole world.”
“We trust in the help of Consumers’ Association for what concern raising consciousness about our problem, and in the help of Chamber of Commerce of Venice, as a controller when needed.”
More than once Promovetro has asked for the help of politicians, trade unions and residents – “There is no more time left. We are now risking for Murano to become a mere touristic attraction. We want to safeguard and to go on with our art; the very same art given to us by our ancestors. But we cannot do it by ourselves, we need the help of institutions and politics, in action just like the signing of this agreement.
This is our only hope to give a future to Murano, and to this art that cannot die.