Observatory publications

Illicit trade in fake goods is a significant and growing threat in a globalised and innovation-driven economy, undermining good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government. It not on ...More Illicit trade in fake goods is a significant and growing threat in a globalised and innovation-driven economy, undermining good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government. It not only has a negative impact on the sales and profits of affected firms and on the economy in general, but also poses major health and safety threats to consumers. To provide policy makers with solid empirical evidence about this threat, the OECD and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) joined forces to carry out a series of analytical studies that deepen our understanding of the scale and magnitude of the problem. The results have been published in a set of reports: Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Mapping the Economic Impact (2016), Mapping the Real Routes of Trade in Fake Goods (2017), Trade in Counterfeit Goods and Free Trade Zones: Evidence From Recent Trends (2018), Why do countries Export Fakes (2018), Misuse of Small Parcels for Trade in Counterfeit Goods (2018) and Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods (2019). The results are alarming. They show that trade in counterfeit and pirated goods amounted to up to 3.3 % of world trade in 2016, up from 2.5 % in 2013; when considering only the imports into the EU, they amounted to up to 6.8 % of imports, compared with 5 % three years earlier. Counterfeiters operate swiftly in the globalized economy, misusing free trade zones, taking advantage of many legitimate trade facilitation mechanisms and thriving in economies with insufficient governance standards. This report builds on previous analyses, focusing on the situation in one particular sector: pharmaceuticals. Counterfeits imply not only possible economic damages for this sector, but also significant health threats, since fake medicines are often not properly formulated and may contain dangerous ingredients. Counterfeit medicines have included medicaments for serious diseases, including malaria, HIV/AIDS and cancer. The scale is huge – in 2016, international trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals reached USD 4.4 billion....Less

Tags: health - counterfeiting - counterfeit medicines

During recent years, EUIPO has published several studies highlighting the virtuous cycle between IP and economic performance, with a special focus on SMEs. This new study contributes to this narrative ...More During recent years, EUIPO has published several studies highlighting the virtuous cycle between IP and economic performance, with a special focus on SMEs. This new study contributes to this narrative by examining the revenues that SMEs can derive from their EU Trade Marks by licensing them to other companies. The owner of an EUTM can use it to identify the goods or services produced, or it can grant permission to another company (licensee) to use the trade mark in exchange for an economic benefit. Trade mark licensing is thus one way to derive the economic benefit from the IPR. The report values a firm’s stock of EUTMs based on observable characteristics of a sample of SMEs that own EUTMs and license them to others....Less

Tags: trademarks - ip value - licensing - private sector companies - rights holders

In 2018, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, commissioned a research study on IPTV crime in Euro ...More In 2018, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, commissioned a research study on IPTV crime in Europe. The purpose of the research study was to enhance the level of understanding about the ways illegal internet protocol television (IPTV) is carried out, how the business models around this phenomenon work, and thereby provide a basis for subsequent identification of possible responses to tackle the challenge of the phenomenon more effectively. The research study was commissioned to the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management (CIPPM) of Bournemouth University, which set up a team of researchers in law, economics and computer science. The research team was assisted by an expert group including rights holders, law enforcement representatives, regulatory authorities, civil society groups and digital security companies. The present report is carried out as an interdisciplinary study, surveying legal, technical and economic aspects of illegal IPTV. It is the first major study that reviews the existing literature, the legislative framework and case-law in the EU and provides structural analysis of existing business models with regard to unauthorised delivery of television content over the internet. In addition, the study provides the first assessment results of the magnitude of illegal PTV across the EU in terms of active users and unlawful revenue obtained from infringing activities....Less

Tags: business - ip rights - digital content - streaming

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the EU’s economy. They employ two out of every three workers and provide 57% of added value within the EU. However, it is estimated that only ar ...More Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the EU’s economy. They employ two out of every three workers and provide 57% of added value within the EU. However, it is estimated that only around 30-60 % of SMEs survive beyond 5 years of trading. To help the EU economy, SMEs need support to bridge this period, and innovation is one of the core reasons for businesses surviving and growing. Innovation allows small businesses to strengthen and grow, and to employ more people, which will ultimately lead to a larger and stronger EU economy. Intellectual property (IP) plays a vital role in promoting innovation as it provides those who invest time, effort and money in innovation with a mechanism to protect and benefit from it. Against this background, the EUIPO has released the IP SME Scoreboard series of reports, to provide insight into why SMEs do or do not register intellectual property rights, and what problems they encounter in doing so. These reports represent an up to date and relevant evidence base for decision makers through which they can design policies to support SMEs....Less

Tags: ip value - business - enterprises - ip rights - behaviour

Building on the first IP Youth Scoreboard, published three years ago, this updated 2019 online survey covers young people (age 15-24) in the 28 EU Member States and highlights their attitudes and beha ...More Building on the first IP Youth Scoreboard, published three years ago, this updated 2019 online survey covers young people (age 15-24) in the 28 EU Member States and highlights their attitudes and behaviours connected to digital content, physical goods and communication issues related to IP rights....Less

Tags: youngsters - copyright - counterfeiting - behaviour - attitudes - digital content