Challenging Fake Goods
Counterfeiting poses a major challenge to the fashion and high-end industries, where creativity is at the core of the production process. These creative products account for the largest share of all counterfeit goods. In terms of value, they comprised over 50% of products detained by European customs officials in 2013 and it has been estimated that the share of fake products in global trade amounts to 8%.
Small businesses often lack the necessary means to protect their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). This is heightened by the new opportunities offered by e-commerce which enable companies to reach new markets in the digital arena, making the sale of counterfeit goods even easier. Fashion articles are currently amongst the top three products sold online.
How EU is helping you?
To counter this threat, the Commission is active in a number of areas:
Small businesses often lack the necessary means to protect their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). This is heightened by the new opportunities offered by e-commerce which enable companies to reach new markets in the digital arena, making the sale of counterfeit goods even easier. Fashion articles are currently amongst the top three products sold online.
How EU is helping you?
To counter this threat, the Commission is active in a number of areas:
- In 2012, the Commission launched the Stop Fakes campaign to raise consumer awareness about the dangers of fake goods and to promote closer cooperation between the Commission, national authorities, industry and consumers.
- A network of IPR help desks provides free guides and expert advice on IPR protection in certain non-EU countries:
- Africa IP SME Helpdesk
- China IP SME Helpdesk
- European IP Helpdesk
- India IP SME Helpdesk
- Latin America IP SME Helpdesk
- South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk
- The European IPR Helpdesk offers free of charge, first-line support to beneficiaries of EU-funded research projects and EU SMEs involved in transnational partnership agreements.
