22 | 12 | 2022

European Commission published the “Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List”

The European Commission published a working document of its professional services entitled the “Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List”.

The document was created following the analysis of the results of the public consultation conducted by the European Commission in the period from December 15, 2021 to February 14, 2022, and using other available sources of information, with the aim of identifying markets outside the European Union where counterfeiting and piracy practices have been observed, or other forms of infringement of intellectual property rights. Significant support in the preparation of this project was also provided to the Commission by the European Observatory for Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, at the EUIPO.

The Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List clearly names Internet sites and physical marketplaces that are believed to be involved in intellectual property rights infringements by offering and selling counterfeit products, unauthorised distribution of copyright content, or otherwise.

It should also be noted on this occasion that infringements of intellectual property rights do not only harm the holders of these rights, but the purchase of counterfeit products may endanger the health or safety of consumers, especially when it is taken into account that counterfeiting covers numerous industrial sectors and that dangerous counterfeits such as counterfeit medicines and medical products, pesticides, toys, wines and other beverages, electronic products, cosmetics, perfumes and more can be found on illegal markets.

The Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List should contribute to strengthening the awareness among consumers to buy products through safe places and to use copyright content only through legal internet services, avoiding the risks of visiting dubious websites, i.e. the risks of buying counterfeit and pirated products.

The publication of this document should, on the other hand, encourage those who manage the aforementioned problematic markets to take appropriate measures to detect and combat infringements of intellectual property rights.

The entire document is available here.