Joint EUIPO-Europol Report Reveals Wide-Ranging Impact of IP Crime in Europe

A recent report by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) sheds light on the widespread dangers of intellectual property (IP) crime in Europe. Titled “Uncovering the Ecosystem of Intellectual Property Crime: A Focus on Enablers”, the report details how, through the continuous flood of counterfeit goods in the European market, consumers unknowingly put their health, safety and the economy at risk.

Organised crime networks are capitalising on consumer demand for affordable products, resulting in a sharp increase in counterfeit goods throughout the EU. In 2022 alone, authorities seized over 86 million counterfeit items, with a total value exceeding €2 billion. These counterfeit products span various industries, including video games, toys, packaging materials, cigarettes, and even pharmaceuticals, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue across multiple sectors.