At the heart of the research work carried out by the EUIPO, through the European Observatory on Infringements of IP Rights, is the trilogy of studies. These studies investigate three crucial aspects of intellectual property: its contribution to the economy and job creation; how it is perceived by citizens; and the economic effects of its infringement.
IP contribution, IP perception and the quantification of IP infringement are three important and interlocked strands in the study of intellectual property in the modern world. How much value does it add? How do citizens view it, and what choices do they make when dealing with IP? And what economic damage does its infringement cause, both here in the EU and at global level?
Intellectual property studies
The European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights works to provide evidence-based data on the impact of intellectual property on the economy of the European Union (EU), as well as on its role and public perception. We are conducting a programme of socio-economic studies in order to meet these objectives.
Pan European Awareness Campaign, World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2021
The COVID 19 pandemic and the resulting rise in online shopping and consumption of digital content, has shed new light on the risks and damages posed by intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement in Europe and put the dangers for consumers under a microscope.
Contribution of IPRs to the EU economy and to individual firms
This is a series of studies that look at the overall contribution made by IPR-intensive industries to the EU economy and at the role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in individual firms. Covering two time periods, from 2011 to 2013, and from 2008 to 2010, the studies on IPR-intensive industries focus on the impact on both GDP and job creation, whilst the performance study compares the economic performance of companies that own IPRs with the performance of those that do not
Quantification of IPR infringement
The Quantification of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringement work stream includes a series of studies of international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods in cooperation with the OECD. It also includes the results of several sectorial studies carried out by the Observatory, as well as studies of online copyright infringement in the European Union, and infringement of geographical indications. Together, these studies aim to evaluate the economic impact of IPR infringement globally and in the European Union, in order to support policymaking with objective and reliable data.
Europeans and intellectual property studies
Analysis of how IP is perceived and the relevant drivers of consumer and company behaviour. The 2013 study of what European citizens think about these important rights, demonstrated that not everyone fully accepts the contribution that IPR makes and that young people in particular can be sceptical in this regard. Further research, presented in Youth and SME scoreboards, aims to deepen our understanding of the attitudes of these main target groups.
Study headlines: interactive e-booklet
The main findings of the Observatory study series are summarised in an interactive e-booklet with an easy to navigate menu. The e-booklet groups the principal studies in the trilogy: IP Awareness; IP Contribution; and IP Infringement. It includes the key figures and analysis from each report, plus links to country-level data and supporting information like infographics.