ipr infringement smartphone sector

The economic cost of IPR infringement in the smartphones sector

This study aims to estimate the economic impact of counterfeit smartphones in the European Union and at the global level on the legitimate sector.

The study analysed the number of smartphones sold in 90 countries in every region in the world in 2015, based on point-of-sale tracking of consumer purchases.

Main findings:

• EUR 45.3 billion lost worldwide in 2015 (12.9% of all legitimate sales)
• In the EU, EUR 4.2 billion was lost in 2015 (8.3% of all legitimate sales)
• 21.3% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in Africa in 2015
• 19.6% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in Latin America in 2015
• 7.6% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in North America in 2015

• 17.4% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in the Arab countries in 2015
• 15.6% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in China in 2015, with China accounting for one third of the global revenue loss in the smartphone sector that year
• 11.8% of sales were lost due to counterfeiting in the Asia-Pacific region in 2015

The study was carried out in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations specialised agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).