3rd November 2016

Should seized counterfeits be donated to charity?

Increasingly when authorities sieze counterfeit products, they donate them to a local charity to sell for profit, however this practice has faced criticism from both rights holders and officials governing bodies. The problem is more complex than it would first appear.

Counterfeit goods account for 10% of worldwide trade - that’s $500 billion dollars annually according to the World Customs Organization. Not only can these products pose health and safety risks to the public but there is an increa

11th November 2016

What to look for in a brand protection service

The right brand protection service will prevent and respond to any cases of unauthorised trademark use and illicit retail, of either genuine or counterfeit products. It therefore protects your brand from loss of investment, declining sales and crucial damage to brand equity.

Traditional legal efforts, while still helpful in some cases, are insufficient to keep up with the modern threats to brands; manual efforts to detect, document and submit take-downs will be very time-consuming where tech-dr

16th November 2016

Fake apps: a growing risk to consumers

While more consumers will shop online to avoid the stresses this Christmas, hundreds of fake retail apps could leave them not just disappointed, but at risk of malware attacks.


In recent weeks iPhone users have been faced with an increasing numbers of counterfeit retail and product apps. Some of these fake product apps merely aim to confuse users and cause annoying pop-up ads while generating advert revenue but there are also those more harmful counterfeit apps which extract personal informat

23rd November 2016

Fake Uggs to counterfeit North Face: winter brands at high risk of counterfeiting

As manufacturers and retailers are gearing up for the holiday shopping season, so too are counterfeiters. They are  hoping to cash in on the demand for winter warmers as consumers prepare for the chilly months ahead. Here we look at some of the most common counterfeits this winter and how to spot them.

Counterfeit clothing and footwear are often made of inferior quality materials and because of this, rarely protect you against the elements of winter as authentic brands promise to do. This is pa

21st November 2016

Fake alcohol, a growing problem for European producers

From fine Spanish wines to prestigious French Champagnes and world-famous Scotch labels, alcoholic beverages contribute massively to the European economy. But the market for fake wine and whiskey is also a lucrative business, causing legitimate manufacturers to lose both revenue and jobs, as well as producing counterfeit products which could seriously harm consumers.

A report released from 2016 estimates that counterfeit wine and spirits costs the EU economy €3 billion a year. According to the

25th October 2018

How to spot a fake in 5 steps

No one wants to be tricked into buying fake products, so take a look at this checklist before you go shopping and get cheated.

With almost no industry left untouched by the presence of counterfeits, consumers can be duped into buying poor quality imitations and left disappointed whether they are looking for Nike trainers, mobile phone accessories, a luxury watch or cosmetic products. In addition to being left out of pocket, some consumers are then stuck with goods which are made with potentiall

19th October 2018

How counterfeiters stifle research and innovation

Innovation is key to strong economics, but where there is a lack of intellectual property rights and a high risk of counterfeiting, there is a reluctance to invest and innovate and, as a result, huge potential losses to a country’s economy.

We often talk about the immediate and short-term economic impact of counterfeiting which includes huge losses of revenue for brands and businesses, lower taxes paid to governments, and the loss of legitimate jobs contributing to higher unemployment.

The eff

16th October 2018

Which country imports the most counterfeits in Europe?

An EU report reveals the state of counterfeit imports in the EU, as well as Europe’s biggest national importers of fake goods.

The European Commission report, studying the EU customs of intellectual property rights, outlines the main sources of IP infringing items, what those items are and how they are transported.

The European Union saw a reduction in the number of counterfeit goods detained last year while headed for or already in transit across its borders. The report shows that the number

23rd September 2018

Is piracy killing the horror movie?

In the run up to halloween, the public are bombarded with adverts for both classical and new horror films. The movie industry has long suffered from piracy and it's possible that horror movies are bearing the brunt of the effects.

Movies have benefitted from a dramatic increase in production budgets in recent years.The 1997 release of Titanic, which had an original budget of $200 million, made it by far the most expensive movie of its time. However in the past 10 years it has become common for

15th October 2018

Turkey: The counterfeiters on Europe's doorstep

Though China produces the overwhelming majority of counterfeit products, Turkey has become Europe's gateway for counterfeits by abusing with IP rights and an influx of Syrian refugees.

While China remains the top producer of counterfeit goods globally, Turkey is playing an increasingly key role, not just in the transit, but also in the production of fake merchandise. China and Hong Kong (China) were responsible for the more than 80% of global counterfeits in 2013, with Turkey following in third