Fake It Till You… Get Caught? EU Cracks Down on Counterfeit Trade
The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the OECD just dropped a bombshell report: Mapping Global Trade in Fakes 2025. The TL;DR? Counterfeiting is booming, and it’s a global problem. While international trade has made life faster, cheaper, and more connected, it’s also handed counterfeiters the perfect playground. The result? USD 467 billion worth of fake goods traded worldwide in 2021—and the EU alone saw USD 117 billion of that!
How the Fakes Are Winning (and What They’re Targeting)
Gone are the days of knockoff handbags in shady markets. Today’s counterfeiters are slick—they’re producing goods closer to where you buy them, using low-surveillance free trade zones, and slipping through customs via postal services in teeny-tiny “under-the-radar” parcels. China and Hong Kong are still the main players, but the whole world’s pitching in. Nearly half of all product categories are affected—think sneakers, phones, handbags, and even electronics. It’s not just bad for business; it’s unsafe for consumers and a win for organized crime.
It’s Time to Team Up (Yes, That Means You Too, Shipping Companies)
If you think this is just a customs problem, think again. The report calls for a squad effort—governments, postal services, shipping firms, and rights holders need to coordinate, share intel, and act fast. The pandemic threw a wrench in trade, but fakes bounced back stronger than ever. Without better collaboration, enforcement is playing whack-a-mole on a global scale.
Don’t Let the Fakes Win—Protect Your Brand
Whether you’re building a brand or managing an empire, you can’t afford to ignore IP protection. Not sure where to start? Our legal experts are here to help you guard your business like a pro. Let’s make sure your stuff doesn’t end up on the counterfeiters’ to-do list—get in touch today!
Zdroje
Text: ‘EUIPO and OECD Publish a Report on Counterfeit and Pirated Trade’. EUIPO, https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/news/observatory/euipo-and-oecd-publish-a-report-on-counterfeit-and-pirated-trade. Accessed 12 June 2025.
Photo: 'Women Selling Footwear in Traditional Market' by Lucas Tran: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-selling-footwear-in-traditional-market-28902764/