Observatory publications

This report is based on an analysis of the 30 most frequently pirated creative works in each of the EU Member States, including films, TV series and music. The study finds that piracy mainly affects ...More This report is based on an analysis of the 30 most frequently pirated creative works in each of the EU Member States, including films, TV series and music. The study finds that piracy mainly affects creative works recently produced and released. TV series are the most frequently pirated creative works but the relationship between piracy and popularity of the corresponding legal content is more difficult to ascertain, as is also the case for music. The study also looks at the tastes of consumers of pirated content across the EU, and finds a high degree of homogeneity among the Member States, especially for film....Less

Tags: piracy - consumers - copyright - films and tv - digital content

The EUIPO through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights has launched an EU-wide study on the perceptions of intellectual property (IP) among European citizens. In t ...More The EUIPO through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights has launched an EU-wide study on the perceptions of intellectual property (IP) among European citizens. In total, 25 636 interviews were conducted with EU residents aged 15 and above. The 2020 IP Perception study aims to gather knowledge on Europeans’ attitudes towards IP, the degree to which they respect these rights, and the concept that they have of IP as a whole. This is the 3rd edition of this study and shows a gradual and encouraging change in understanding and attitudes following the previous EUIPO surveys conducted in2013 and 2017....Less

Tags: piracy - consumers - copyright - counterfeiting - perception - behaviour - attitudes - ...More

Tags: piracy- consumers- copyright- counterfeiting- perception- behaviour- attitudes- digital content - ...Less

The capacity of computers to recognise content is central to the latest developments in digital media, e-commerce, robotics or self-driving vehicles. This drives major innovation in the field of autom ...More The capacity of computers to recognise content is central to the latest developments in digital media, e-commerce, robotics or self-driving vehicles. This drives major innovation in the field of automated content recognition (ACR) technologies that are now deployed for a broad range of purposes. As a first step to understand the impact of such technologies on intellectual property, this discussion paper describes the functioning of hashing, watermarking, fingerprinting or AI-based solutions, and their uses for content recognition. It explores the advantages and limitations of each of these technologies, as well as how they can be combined to optimise content recognition. This first phase analysis will be followed by a second phase focusing on use cases of ACR technologies to support the protection or management of IP....Less

Tags: ip rights - technology - digital content

This new study published by the EUIPO through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights looks at EU firms’ simultaneous use of patents, trade marks and registered desig ...More This new study published by the EUIPO through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights looks at EU firms’ simultaneous use of patents, trade marks and registered designs to protect their innovation. It is based on a sample of more than 63 000 companies across all Member States. The study shows that firms that use multiple IP rights (IPRs) account for a disproportionate share of employment and turnover among the firms in the sample. Larger firms tend to have more IPR bundles than SMEs. Patents are the right most frequently combined with other IPRs. The study also found significant differences in the bundling of IPRs across sectors of the economy, with firms in the manufacturing sector much more likely to bundle IPRs than those in the services sector....Less

Tags: copyright - design - business - patents - ip rights - trademark

Tech Watch looks to the future but with a firm understanding of the past and present and awareness of the impact of technology in society, on businesses and in our lives. This discussion paper prepare ...More Tech Watch looks to the future but with a firm understanding of the past and present and awareness of the impact of technology in society, on businesses and in our lives. This discussion paper prepared with support from the Impact of Technology Expert Group of the Observatory contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of emerging and disruptive technologies and considers the impact of these technologies in the future protection, infringement and enforcement of intellectual property....Less

Tags: enforcement - ip rights - technology - infringements