Dealing With The Sale Of Counterfeits On The Internet

The sale of counterfeit goods is a significant worldwide issue.

After initial studies carried out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Develop (OECD), the OECD and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) updated these studies in 2016. OECD/EUIPO estimated that the trade in pirated products accounted for as much as 2.5% of the value of international trade, or $461 billion, in 2013. In addition, these products frequently present health and safety issues.

Much of this counterfeiting activity takes place on the Internet since counterfeiters can conceal their identity while taking advantage of the flexible nature of the Internet. To deal with these issues, a brand owner must ensure that steps have been taken to protect relevant intellectual property, monitor the marketplace, and enforce their rights. The amount of Internet traffic generated by specific sites should be an important factor in deciding what steps should be taken.