How EU Ecodesign Regulations Can Help Fight Counterfeit Products

Turning Compliance into Opportunity

With the continued growth of e-commerce, companies who conduct business online are increasingly more at risk of Intellectual Property (IP) infringement. While many counterfeit products are manufactured unethically and at low-cost, consumer perceptions have shifted. A 2023 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) found that around 54% of imported counterfeit and pirated products between 2017 and 2019 were sold to consumers who knew that they were buying fake products. Rather than buying items to last, many are now looking for cheap clothes they can wear a few times, which is ideal for counterfeiters looking to make quick cash by selling fake versions of genuine products.